VOLUNTEER TRAINING

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 357, 11 February 1937, Page 4

VOLUNTEER TRAINING

RECRUITING DIFFICULTIES Mechanisation Now Being Introduced. A general lack of realisation of the principle of service and the effect of recent industrial legislation was given a£ the reason for the poor response that is being received to appeals for volunteers for 4(he territorial forces, by Sergeant-Major J. L. O. Rowe, interviewed by the “Central Press” this morning. The young people of New Zealand to-day were not “coming up to scratch” said Sergeant-Major Rowe. This v.‘as not only shown in the territorial recruiting but also in the lack ot interest that was displayed in such organiations as the St. John Ambulance. The effect of the shorter hours 1 and higher wages had been to make it more difficult for men, who deserved to ’do so, to get off work to go to camp. Employers v'ere now less bidined to allow any concessions Bo their assistants. During the last 12 months the strength of the Stratford platoon had fallen from about 50 to 25. Annual Camp. In preparation for the annual camp, commencing at Waverley on February 27, Colonel F. S. Varnham, M.C., E D., Officer in Command of the First Battalion of the Taranaki Regiment, Captain F. L. Hunt, N.Z.S.C., Adjutant, apd Major L. M. Fairbrother, V.D., second in command of the battalion, will be present at the parade of the Stratford platoon tonight. A special appeal to attend the camp will be imade to the men to attend the coronation will be interviewed. No Marching. A policy of making camp work more interesting has been adopted by the defence authorities since the volunteer system .was introduced, but camps this year will offer several completely new features. The most important of these is the elimination of ordinary marching. In accordance with modern ideas* of mechanisation, all movements will be ! carrk d out by bus column, and cross- ■ country marching, as part of night • manoeuvres, will be carried out, but ! on the days following the two I ing nights, men will be allowed comj p-:nsating time off during the day. J In' addition to night operations | there will be gas training and anti- ! aircraft v.’brk, both of which are of ; paramount importance in modern ■ warfare.