TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 198, 19 February 1914, Page 2

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

'JT.AIXIXO COLONIAL AIEX. IXTKKYIKW WITH MR. ALLEN. civ Telegraph. —l'ress Association. Hastings, 'Tuesday. In an interview on the subject of"defence to-day, the Hon. .las. Allen, Minister of Defence, said he wished to correct u wrong impression which was con■veyed in jhe wording of the Press Association message sent from Wellington last Saturday, which stated that the supply of New Zealand Territorial -»ilieers had now practically reached requirements, and further importations were unnecessary. What Air. Allen said at Wellington was that when all the hoys, including those sent this year, came hack from their training at Duntvoon Military College, the supply will he sufficient for our requirements. So'' far as the annual requirements of the •service are concerned, we can meet them ■hy sending four or five hoys annually to Duntroon for training. We snail require in the future to exchange New Zealand officers for Hritisji for two reasons: Firstly, we get the advantage in New Zealand of highly-trained officers as an example- for our officers; and secondly, we shall have special advantago of the New Zealanders who are sent to England or India being trained with the Imperial Army. This is especially Jieeessary, because, if there is to he an Empire Army at all, the standard of training of officers must be about the same, and the English and New Zealand officers must understand each other, and so he able to work together in time of need. Mr. Allen concluded by saying that he is fully convinced that ..New Zealand owes a great deal to the English officers that have been brought here to assist us.