The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, MAY 18, 1914. DEFENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 22, 18 May 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, MAY 18, 1914. DEFENCE.

Recognising, a* many thoughtful people must the necessity for changes in Now Zealand's defence system, the Wellington "Post" has taken up a defence reform movement on similar lines to those recommended by ..n----other North Island journal about two years ago. It was then pointed out that the present defence system was not affecting the universal training that it was originally advocated to accomplish. Some of those who did the propaganda work did it in the firm belief that the training was so good a thing that it should be applied to every unit in the community, and that it was even more important to apply it to the type of men who escape now under medical certificates, than to the sound. This attitude was assumed from the standpoint of the physical and moral welfare of the race. It was recognised as essential, »f eourse, to train the physically fit as defenders of the country, but it wag also essential, both to dofonc* and th» future of the raco, to train th» physical weaklings into strength. This was admitted by the military authorities, but they held that under our present system the question of expense precluded it. Many suggestions were made by which the scheme could be rendered less costly, and yet provide iiiore universal training. The present movement, which is largely on the lines indicated, is receiving support from some military authorities. One mounted infantry •ffio*r, »f raak and •xpori»nc«. is statW ts kav» «i«#lar«d that if th» universal training aohtme ia to sue-

ceed at all the present system must I be radically altered. He particularly; referred to the regular parades which the country men were required to j perform as being particularly irk-, some. What he favoured was' some-j thing more on the lines of the Swiss j system, with men put through a six-, weeks' course of instruction in camp! during the first year, and after that! further courses of a fortnight each in the third and fifth years, and that to. finish the whole business. His idea was for this to apply to the country corps only, his experience of town corps being insufficient to justify him in making any suggestion regarding' them. In the next place there is the question of musketry. Under the present system of doing musketry in camp the work is rushed, with the result that the taxpayer does not get full value for the money expended. The alternative to such a scheme, this officer suggests, would be to draft the country men into camp for such period as the military authorities consider equivalent to the present annual training camp, plus the parades they are called upon to attend during the rest of the year. At present a large number of men are untrained, who, under the system he suggests, would all be brought in. Many other opinions are offered to all of which doubtless objections will be raised. It is certain, however, that changes are essential and must be effected if the scheme is to succeed on truly national lines..