CITIZENS AND COMMANDANT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 299, 12 May 1911, Page 3

CITIZENS AND COMMANDANT.

THE COMMANDANT WELCOMED. A lll'Ll'l'Vl. SI'EKCIT. Yesterday morning, in tlic Town J Lull, Major-General Godley was officially welcomed byiMr. Tisch (Mavnr), citizen oflicers, anil citizens. The ladies and gentlemen present evinced marked interest in the proceedings and accorded the G.O.C. tlic closest attention. THE MAYOK'.S WKIX'OME.

• The Mayor remarked that the function had been put oIT, and it would have .seemed more fitly to have welcomed the G.O.C. on his arrival, lie (the Mayor), however, had been called upon to preside at a large meeting, and MajorGeneral Godlev would therefore kindly understand the position. It was fitting that in the inauguration of the new defence scheme tlie distinguished soldier who was to administer it should meet the fathers and mothers of the young men who would form the New Zealand national army. The scheme, happily, was entirely in the hands of the general. He was sure that the citizens of New Plymouth were fully in accord with the scheme which, by implanting in the breasts of schoolboys and those of riper years the spirit of the truest type of citizenship, would benefit New Zeajand and that Empire of which it was a part. Taranaki had in a very special degree made history. It ha/1 supplied the first corps of citizen soldiers to take me field shoulder to shoulder with Imperial troops. (Cheers.) Me hoped the general would be able to shortly return to New Plymouth, so that he might see the historic and hallowed spots dear to the memory of those brave old soldier pioneers. He extended on behalf of the citizens of New Plymouth to MajorGeneral God ley and Mrs. Godley their hearty and cordial welcome. MR. OKEY, M.P.

Mr. Okev, M.P., in supporting tlie Mayor, pointed out that Parliament made the laws, but the administration of them was in other hands, and on this depended their success. Hacked up by the parents of potential soldiers, the scheme would succeed. In Parliament there was 110 "party" 011 that question of defence. Ft was desirable that there .should be no •compulsion, but that all should loyally work for the success of the new undertaking. THE GENERAL'S SPEECH. (Major-General 'Godley on rising was received with applause. He was gratified that so many ladies and gentlemen should meet him on his (lying visit to Taranaki. He apologised for his brief visit, but lie had been able to go to Marsland Hill and to St. Marv's ' au'ch, both being of intense interest him. hallowed as they were by li' . ~ric associations and bv mementoes >'f a stirring past. (Applause.) He '-..J found in his visits to other plac;s that misconceptions existed. It was his privilege to explain them away. MISCONCEPTION' REMOVED. The Government and the military authorities were in true sympathy with the Boy Scout movement. He was a personal friend of Major-General Sir R. S. linden-Powell, and was in Mafeking with him. The Government had given sanction for the formation of Boy Scout units in the senior cadets, but'it was not true that hoys could escape being senior cadets by being liny Scouts. Every boy between the ages of 14 a'llj IS must bo a senior cadet, although he might belong to a Bov Scout patrol or company. It was desired that institutions such as the V.M.C.A., etc., would form units of cadets, and the Department would do its very be.st to nee that hoys ami men were kept in their various units either in the ranks of the cadet branch or of the territorials.

RIFLE CLUBS. It was a fallacy that the Government, was not sympathetic with rifle clubs. lie liail a great regard fur the rifle clubs and knew their utility. What was wanted was the enrolment of men in rifle clubs after their service in the territorials, in order to form a second reserve for the forces. Unfortunately, it was impossible to keep men on the reserve after the age of 30, but they could, lie hoped, be induced to remain in the rifle clubs to the age of 55. Every possible means would, be taken to keep this proposed reserve strong when the first reserve was exhausted. The money dillicultv would be present, 110 doubt, and to make both ends meet would be one of the problems. EMPLOi ERS AXD'MEN". As to the legal obligations 011 employees and employers, all the permanent officers and non-commissioned officers from himself downward would carefully study local conditions and citizens' interests. The Inu-e minimum of training would be exacted—from a soldier's point of view it .seemed small. With the instinct for soldiering everywhere apparent in New Zealand he believed it possible to liave a more efficient army than in almost any other country. "PRECIOUS SMALL."

The demands made might look formidable on paper, but boiled down they were "precious small." One drill a fortnight, with four others wedged in, was not a great hardship. The whole day parades could'be easily arranged on halfholidays. The camps would lie arranged for the convenience of districts. There would be no attempt to waste horseflesh by asking men in outlying districts to ride 50 or 00 miles in order to attend an hour's parade. There would lie a system of interchange —men would be •'lumped" together in a six or seven days' camp, and always when fanning was slack. In dairying districts the training would invariably be in the winter. Employers would not be. called upon to relieve all men liable for service at the one lime. Care would Tie taken to draft men in one employ into various arms -artillery, cavairv, infantry or any service. If cmplavers found (iifl'iculties they would lie carefully studied, and the department would "play the game." lie was sure that employers would also "play the game" and meet him half way. The Government could not all'or.d to supply horses anil saddlery for the mounted branch, it was untrue thai the (lovernment had a "lien" on mounted, men's liorses. Men who had not horses, or -aid they had not, would be drafted into foot corps. THE CITIZEN' nITU'KU. The military authorities would concentrate on ensuring the efficiency of the citizen officers. The army was to lie a citizen army—the people'- army—and the honor of a coimni-Mun in it was a high one. The permanent force existed only to help the citizen army -and the citizen officer would have to pa>s hi- exanis. There was no element of conscription. The permanent stall' existed only to aid and instinct, if possible. The citizen officers of the dominion were wonderfully keen, lie was glad. The retiring age limits would be strictly enforced in order to give young men a chance. REOIsiTIIATIOX. lie hoped everybody would aid in getting full registration reported by June -. Work would begin in earnest after the enrolment was complete. The job was a huge one and frightfully difficult, and he would be glad if no forcible means were necessary to got tfie register com-

plcte. The training in the near future would be elementary- the handling ol recruits. Camps would be battalion and regimental camps. It was not intended to pass large bodies. The hulk of the immediate training would be drill hall training and work near men's homes. lie wanted parents to see the camps for themselves, There need be no anxiety about their conduct. The men could not be uniformed immediately, but the contracts were out. They couldn't have a first-elass spick-and-span army in months or even years. The G.OIC. warmlythanked all present on behalf of Mrs. Godley anil himself for their presence and sympathy, and was sanguine of the success of the scheme when it was in working order. (C'h"ers.) TIIAXKS. Mr. Quilliam. in moving a vote of thanks to the G.O.C. for his lucid address, said it had cleared the mists. It was definite, clear, and concise. Mr. Baker, president of the Employers' Association, in seconding, said he felt that he was right in assuring him that the employers were wholly in sympathy They would do their best to further the efforts of 11. movement in which the nation's interests were indissolubly bound.