THE DEFENCE FORCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 2, 27 June 1911, Page 3

THE DEFENCE FORCE.

GENERAL GODLEY PLEASED. \ By Telegraph.—Press Association. i Wellington, Monday. ' Genera! Godley was greatly pleased with the appearance of the cadets at the Coronation review, and with the troops generally, who. he told his hearers at the social function, would have done credit to the regulars in many countries. By the time of the next review he expected to have a display quite equal to anything at Home. Speaking of what the stall' had so fur done, he said they had secured the thirty thousand men they required, Imt there were several thousand still unregistered. He was especially glad so many of the old volunteers wished to continue in the ranks. After the men had done their territorial and reserve service they wanted them to join rifle clubs until 55 years of age. At first 4") years -was proposed, but men at that a<fe were so ridiculously young in this coimtry that the limit' was extended. The medical examinatiUiH jwas the ■ next thing, but it would not bei severe, and only what doctors described as a gross lesion -would disqualify,' because, they wanted to train as many as possible. New and up-to-date gims were now leaving Home, horses had been purchased and were being trained, and the net resnlt would be that whereas New Zealand had been paying .£.318,000 per annum for an indifferent army of 15,000 with no "equipment worth speaking of, no army service corps, and obsolete guns,'for £400.000 they would get an of .30,000 prepared to take the field in every respect. General Godley expressed great pleasure at the cordial support he had received everywhere in the Dominion.