N.Z. Defence System

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 67, 7 August 1914, Page 2

N.Z. Defence System

MORS THAN SATISFACTORY. REFERENCE IN THE BUDGET. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Budget introduced in the House to-night ai.ys tliat: The scheme of universal training ;i pro-ring IV r more satisfactory than was anticipated. An excellent feeling genetally prevails throughout the force, and the rapid growth of the legiinenui spirit lUa produced a good fellow-ship between all ranks, the undoubted tendency o' which is to establish a better understanding between individuals, ami a resultant improvement in their civil relation!.

The p'esent system, hased as it in on the furdamontal principle that it is the duty of every citizen to take his share in the defence of his country, does not press on any one section of the community, hut touches all classes, and every effort is made to carry it out with the minimum of convenience to both the employer and the employe!. The Government has pleasure in acknowledging tii(! ready support accorded Ly employers and the cheerful acceptance by the men of the citizen army if their responsibilities in connection, v-t'li the scheme.

Tho importance of possessing a force trained, officered pud lit to take the field on an emergency cannot he overestimatdt. In New Zealand we have ' not been s'.ow to recognise that soldiers cannot V made efficient and units cannot be poperly organised without concerted training, nor can it be expected that fchsse resu.ts are attainable without bhe assistance of qualified officers ■and non-commissioned officers, who, owing to their past training, are possess-* ed of the necessary practical experience to enatile them to act as instructors to our citiijn force.

The visit paid by the Inspector-Gen-eral of th > Overseas Forces with his export sta..f will, I am confident, prove of the greatest value, and Sir lan Hamilton's able report following his complete inspection of the various units will help uo very Materially in the introduction of further improvements and economies. ANNUAL TRAINING-CA'MPS. The i.':r< entage of attendance at the divisional camps recently held throughout the Dominion was exceptionally good, and an excellent opportunity was afforded of testing the organisation of tine higher branches of the service and the cohesion of the different units.

The satisfactory results of these csmip3, despite the disadvantage of bad v.'eathoit are a striking tribute to the success attained by the General Officer Commau ling, and his nf-aff, in the training of tlv- officers, non-commissioued •officers end men of the Territorial Force. FINANCE. • The expenditure out of revenue on ac- \ cf'iiiit jf defence amounted to £488,570,' • . £i">.;'i7 less than the estimated r■qulrcuie .ts, and showing a saving of £10,097 tn the expenditure of the pre-f' v.ious yew. Steps have already been 1 taken to reorganise what may be term- j ed the Civii administrative side of the j Defence Department on the lines advocated l.y the Inspector-General of the Overseas Forces. RIFLE CLUBS.

During the past year several concessions have been granted to the members oi Ride Clubs, the majority of whom are able-l/xlied citizens with some previous mi'itary training, who should prove a valuable additional lino of defence wnen acting in support of the Territorial Force:. SENIOR CADETS.

The i.rjvcrumcnt is extremely gratified at the enthusiasm and efficiency displayed by the junio.r branch of the service, vjion which it is retogniseil the future success of the Territorial Force to a very large extent depends. The moral md physical ad\ untage® of the training ar.d discipline to which the Senior Cadets are subjected are already apparent. I would particularly direct attention to the special references to tile cadets contained in the InspectorGeneral's report.