MILITARY CAMPS OFF

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 932, 27 March 1930, Page 1

MILITARY CAMPS OFF

ECONOMY IN DEFENCE SOUGHT BIG REDUCTIONS INTENDED Press Association WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Tlie Prime Minister, who is at Rotorua, has issued the following statement, — “The Government is at present engaged in careful consideration of the system of land defence in New Zealand, and a revision of the whole question is now proceeding, especially having regard to the necessity of reducing the annual expenditure on this branch of defence. It is the intention of the Government to submit proposals in this respect to Parliament next session, and in the meantime it has been decided that upon the termination of the territorial camps at present being held no further camps will take place until Parliament has had an 1 opportunity of considering the j Government’s proposals.”

It is understood that the Government’s decision, which appears to he an economy measure, involves the cancellation of eight camps. These comprise three mounted camps in the Southern command, three mounted and one medical camp in the Central command, and one battery camp in the Northern command. FEW TRAINEES AFFECTED POSITION IN NORTHERN COMMAND The decision to cancel eight military training camps in the Dominion this year will have little effect in the Northern Command, only one camp, that of the 3rd Field Battery, under Captain H. H. Osmers, at Rotorua, which had been fixed for Saturday next, alone having been cancelled. This will affect about 100 men of the total of 4,000 in the Command. At present there are three contingents under canvas, the Ist Field Battery, which has been at Rotorua since last Saturday under Captain G. D’A. Folkard, the casual camp of the Ist Battalion, the Auckland Regiment, a.n infantry contingent, now at Ngaruawakia, and the Waikato Mounted Rifles, also under canvas at Ngarua- i wahia. Brigadier H. R. Potter, office* .com-1 manding the Northern Command,: said this morning that training camps have been cancelled officially for this year only, and that the whole question will he considered by Parliament before the next training year begins in June. Trainees who had been posted to camps which have been cancelled will not be expected to give other service in place of this training. The units affected in the other Commands are: Centra] Command. —Queen Alex-i andra s Mounted Rifles, Manawatu l Mounted Rifles. Wellington East j Coast Mounted Rifles, and the Central Depot of the New Zealand Medical Corps. Southern Command.—-Canterbury 1 ecman Cavalry, Otago Mounted Rifles, and Nelson - Marlborough Mounted Rifles. Brigadier-General Potter will leave by train this evening to inspect the camp at Ngaruawahia. CENTRAL COMMAND CAMPS FOUR CANCELLATIONS

Press Association PALMERSTON N., Today. Four camps arranged for units of the Central Command with headquarters at Palmerston North have been cancelled following the announcement issued by the Prime Minister regarding the Government’s review of the system of land defence. These are the central depot of the New Zealand Medical Corps at Treutham from April 2 to April 9; the Wellington-East Coast Mounted Rifles at Dannevirke from April 5 to 15; the Manawatu Mounted Rifles at Levin from April 23 to May 3; and Queen Alexandra's Wellington West, Coast Mounted Rifles from May 10 to 20.