COMPULSORY TRAINING THE AUSTRALIAN SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 111, 18 August 1910, Page 5

COMPULSORY TRAINING

THE AUSTRALIAN SCHEME.

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Received August 17, 11.10 p.m. Melbourne, Last Night.

In the Senate the Defence Act Amendment Bill was read a third time. It provides that all male British subjects who have resided in the Commonwealth six months shall serve, between the ages of 12 and 1(4 years, as junior cadets; from 14 to 18 years as senior cadets; from 18 to 25 years, in the citizen forces; from 25 to 26 years, men will be required to register or attend any parade the Governor-General may order. Persons whose religion forbids them to bear arms aTe exempt. The following are exempt in time of war:—The medically unfit, members and officers of Parliaments, judges, magistrates, police, lighthouse keepers, medi.cal men, police or prison employees, persons not substantially of European descent, and any following occupations exempted by regulation or proclamation. The duration of training each ye.ar I will be: Cadets, 120 hours; senior cadets, four day drills, 22 half-day, and 24 night drills. .Citizen forces: Sixteen day drills, or an equivalent of not fewer ■than eight days in camps of continuous /training. In the naval artillery and engineers, and in the military forces, the training will be twenty-five whole days and seventeen days in camps.

Sparsely populated districts may be 'exempt by proclamation. It is proposed to empower the Governor-General to establish horse depots on farms and'stations for the breeding of tToop horses. A deputation of Seventh D*ay Adventists asked 1 the Minister for exemption on Saturdays. He replied that it Was a difficult question, but he would give it consideration.