TERRITORIAL FORCES SCHEME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 387, 12 May 1910, Page 2

TERRITORIAL FORCES SCHEME

PROPOSALS EXPLAINED. VOLUNTEERS OVER TWENTW-FIVE TO GO ON THE RESERVE. SYSTEM OF BALLOTING. The new defence scheme outlined by Sir Joseph Ward at Winton last week appears complicated at first sight, and many people have wondered how it is possible to carry out universal military training in \New Zealand with about eight thousand men becoming available for service every year. This makes a total in seven years, allowing for the annual increase in numbers, of some sixty-five thousand men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-live, and yet

the force to be created is to consist of a little over twenty thousand men.

From the figures it appears that the intention is to -train all youths between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years, and between those ages only will there be absolute universal military training, all eligible youths being compelled to undergo the annual course of instruction and drill. From eighteen to twenty-five only a portion of those available 'will be taken to form the territorial force, as the strength will not be allowed to exceed about twenty thousand men and officers; and the 3000 odd men between eighteen and nineteen years who will in future compose the recruit force. It is thus 1 clear that all those between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five 'wi]l not be called upon to serve, but only such proportion as is needed to make up the force of 20,000. NO NEED FOR ALARM. There need then be no alarm on the .part of employers, because the scheme can be so arranged that trade and commerce will /be in no way interfered with, as would be if all males up to twentyfive years of age were called upon to go through an annual course of training. Outside the 20,000 men needed there will be no general training section 'whatever, except of course for youths between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. Employers will in fact be better . off under the new scheme than under the Act of last session, which imposed a period of fourteen days' continuous training. Although Lord Kitchener did not lay down the period for continuous training in his report to the New Zealand Government, he did so in Australia. This was eight days' continuous training for youths from eighteen to twenty years, and six days from twentyyears to the end of. the term—a considerable reduction on what was at first intended—and there is no reason to suppose that the Australian scheme will be departed from in this respect. CHAOS AND INEFFICIENCY. It must be remembered, when dealing with such a large question as defence, that the finances of a young country are necessarily limited, and the cost of undertaking absolute compulsory training for every male between eighteen and twenty-five years in New Zealand would be enormous and become a tremendous burden on the taxpayers. It would also make for chaos instead of efficiency in the ranks, because the large army created would become very unwieldy in seven years' time unless a tremendous staff was employed to control the forces. This, in itself, would be a huge expense. It is generally postulateif that in the event of war New Zealand might be attacked from oversea 'by a strong force. This would probably be in the form of a surprise, which could only be repelled by a force thoroughly equipped and highly efficient, and one that could be quickly mobilised. These conditions could be better fulfilled by a force such as outlined bv Sir Joseph Ward than by an unwieldy force of 65,000 men. THE GREATEST ADVANTAGE.

The greatest advantage of the new scheme is that instead of having a forge force of youths trained only up to the age of twenti'-one years in accordance with last session's Act, we will now have an army composed of men of mature age, better able to withstand the rigors of a campaign than mere youths. WHO ARE TO SERVE? The question which readily suggests itself is: Who are to form the ''quota" i squired, seeing that now 'we have a force of about twenty-two thousand men cnrollcl under the, voluntary system, including cadets? With regard to these men it would appear that the only practical way is to merge the volunteers into the new scheme, and to transfer all those over the age of twenty-five, with the exception of officers and selected N.C.O.'s, into the reserve; weed out the physically unfit and undesirables, of eligible age, and compel the remainder, if they desire to continue to serve, to sisrn on for the completion of their term, or else put them to the ballot with the remainder of those in the country whose age makes them liable for service.

SYSTEM OF BALLOTTING. There seems to to be some doubt as to the balloting system. The following method will, no doubt, be adopted. Say, for argument's sake, that 3600 men arcneeded to complete the total force of territorials required. This number will be ballotted for in the various areas created from the 'North Cape to the Bluff. If out of this number 000 of the men are physically or otherwise unfit, they will be rejected, and another ballot taken to make >up the number. If there are still rejects, the system will go on till the required number of men is obtained. The reserve under the new scheme will be a very valuable asset to the country. It will be far more reliable if composed of men who have undergone seven years' training than formed as at present of half-trained men who have merely been through the ranks. THE INSTRUCTORS.

Tie success of the scheme will to a very large extent, depend on the twentyeight officers who sue to be appointed to curry- them out. The very best men should be chosen, and each area will be a reflex of the officer who has charge of it. Eventually the twenty-eight officers will have to be considerably augmented, and this will be done gradually. Applications for these officers will be called early next week. It should be made quite clear that every male in the Dominion between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five is liable for service, but it does not follow that they will be actually called upon. They ■will only be balloted for if sufficient numbers are not coming forward voluntarily to make un the strength required. Those who join the territorials will have to sign on for the full term. LORD KITCHENER'S SCHEME. The new system is Lord Kitchener's scheme throughout, tile Field-Marshal

preferring it to .universal military service, recognising the limitations of finance, the unwieldy nature of a force of 65,000; the impossibility of training such large numbers; and the interference with trade and! commerce which a system of universal military training up to twenty-five years, would entail. . In conclusion, it is only necessary to say that the force will he circulatory. Each year there will be .practically 30U0 men coming in out of the recruit branch and about the isame number going out, who have reached the age limit.—Wellington Times.