MILITARY TRAINING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 238, 13 November 1909, Page 7

MILITARY TRAINING.

THE SCHEME EXPLAINED BY THE PREMIER.

By Telegraph.—Pre&s Association. Christehurch, Last Night. The Prime Minister, discussing the question of compulsory military training, said two training camps should be established within a reasonable distance from the trunk systems of railway in jioth Islands. They required at least 12,000 acres for each camp (15,000 acres would be tetter). Tthe whole of tne necessary equipment would be permanently established at both centres and thel instructional stall' would be resident at the camp to enable work that was regarded as so essential in the matter of training to be readily available for those taking part. The general arrangements would be such that the men could be in attendance at suitable times throughout the year, so as to receive the undeniable benelits referred to. With large areas of land, every branch ot military training could be carried out. and the areas must be sufficiently large to provide for artillery work, and to ensure that training generally was carried out in a practical way. Instead of having the irregular and uncertain syBtem of what were known as "Easter camps," there would be a recognised and definite system of progressive military work. The camp* required to be in central positions in both islands', so that instead of men being carried long distances in one direction they would impinge upon a given, centre from the extreme ends of each island, thus evading the present unsatisfactory system of long distance travelling. As soon as legislation was outlined by Parliament, the requisite land would be set aside in both islands for the camps. On the score of economy, the buildings required should be of a permanent nature, which would in the long run effect a considerable saving.