TERRITORIAL SYSTEM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 948, 15 April 1930, Page 8

TERRITORIAL SYSTEM

OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED ABOLITION OFFICERS MEET MINISTER Press Association % WELLINGTON. Today. Strong resentment against the proposed abolition of the present tcrril torial system is felt by officers who are associated with this branch of military training, and evidence i s not lacking that spirited opposition will be forthcoming to the proposals o£ th. Government. The questions raised by the Prime Minister’s recent policy statement ©t a reduction in expenditure on land defence, and the subsequent unofficial forecasts of the possible extent of the pruning process, were discussed last week at a conference in Wellington of the leading territorial officers from all parts of the Dominion, and a decision was reached to approach the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. Discussing the question with the Minister, the deputation deprecated the Government taking any hurried step in the direction of completing the abolition of a system that had taken years to bring to its present state of efficiency. While it was recognised that the country had to face economies and that the “ugly duckling,” the Defence vote, would be among the first to be attacked, it wai emphasised that the whole organis*. tion should not be discarded as a useless piece of machinery without the fullest consideration l>eing given as to what scheme would replace it. Nothing, it was contended, should be done without the fullest inquiry, and whatever system was introduced to supplant the present method of training should be matured and equally efficient. ROYAL COMMISSION Holding that the territorial system was an essential part of the country* defence, the deputation suggested that the Government should appoint a Royal Commission, including in ths personnel a representative of the Imperial Government, to consider and report on the revised scheme of land defence contemplated by the cabinet. The burden of the Minister’s reply was that the Government was making the fullest inquiry into its proposed revision of the policy, and that ths points raised by the deputation would bo taken into consideration.

“The territorial units in New Zea* land have a strong sentimental back* ing, and there is a very kindly feeling toward them in many parts of ths country,” said a gentleman with 4 long and intimate territorial association, when discussing the question. “Any attempt to abolish the system wNI arouse considerable opposition. In places like Hawke’s Bay, for instance, there is nothing the peopl* will not do for the territorial units. Some of thd country people almost worship the mounted units.” He contended that the territorial system did not bring youths up for war, but inculcated in them a necessary discipline. The camps produced a spirit of comradeship, taught the value of team work and improved physique considerably. He was strongly of the opinion that there were many people who would insist upon the traditions of the various regiments being kept alive.