THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 72, 4 July 1910, Page 8

THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

THE NEW SCHEME. MEMORANDUM BY CHIEF OF UEXERAL STAFF. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, July 1. The Minister for Defence presented to Parliament to-day a comrcheusive memorandum on ihe new system of defence.

Inn covering note, Sir Joseph Ward says*:—To allow the new scheme to be put into operation, it is now proposed to ask Parliament to make the necessary amendments in order that the Field Marshal's proposals and "recommendations, in so far as the apply to Sew Zealand, may be given eilect'to practically in their entirety. A great deal has already been done in this direction. Establishments have been issued, the subdivision of military districts into areas has been arranged, 28 additional officers and 28 additional non-commis-sioned officers are being selected, record hooks and registration forms are in preparation, the service uniform has been sealed as a pattern, and orders have been given for a considerable supply of additional arms, equip/ment and "material to meet the expansion of the force. Regw- , lations for the forces have been com- | pleted, but it is not intended to give ejfect to same until the amending Act to be placed before Parliament becomes law. There should be no difficulty in completing the current year of transition on the old regulations, and the new regulations could be made available at an early date. All lads attending secondary schools and colleges and classed as senior cadets, ar« now being trained.

The extension of the training to the senior cadets who have left school will be put into operation as soon as the officers and instructors before referred to are available to organise same in the areas to which they may be posted. Although some time is sure to elapse before a scheme such as that recommended in Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener's report could be put into effect, there would appear to bo no reason why everything should not eventually work for hearty homogeneity, which is absolutely essential if the defences of this portion of the British Empire are to be placed on a satisfactory basis. A table in the memo, from the Chief of General Staff shows that the following is the yearly quota required to Be enrolled as recruits in the territbriaHforce to maintain it at a peace establishment: Eighteen years to 10, total 3690 recruits; 10-20, 3525 trained men; 20-21, 3360 trained men; 21-22, 3210 trained men; 22-23, 3050 trained men; 23-24, 2!K)0 trained men; 24-25, 2755 trained men. Totals: 19-25, 18,800; 25-26, 2610. The totajs thus really in training and available to take the field when the scheme has been developed will 'be:—AM ranks: Territorials, 20,373; Tecruits, 3600; 25-26 year men, 2610; permanent, 459; total, 27,132. Explanatory on quotas. On the scheme coming into operation, the quotas in the total column shown for each year of age will be selected to furnish the necessary 18,800 rank *nd file, and the 3090 recruits required each year afterwards. The quota of recruits only will be drawn, the previous year's, recruits automatically passing on, less' wastage, to the next year of age, until reaching the age limit of 26. Therefore, if on the initiation of the scheme a man is 24 years of age, he will he required to serve one year, if 22 three years, and so on. Thus the territorial force will, after this year, be recruited from th» above source.