TERRITORIAL TRAINING

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1919, Page 2

TERRITORIAL TRAINING

| ITS ABOLITION URGED. At tho meeting of the Stratford County Council on Saturday, the Ashburton Couuty Council forwarded a resolution to which they asked the Council's support as follows: That this council views with alarm Colonel Chaffey's statement re the proposal of holding training camps, as appearing in the public press, and is strongly of opinion, now the war has ended, that they are unnecessary and burdensome to the community in general in the council's judgment no system of defence it the Dominion should be introduced and passed by Parliament before the electors have an opportunity of expressing their views through the ballot box. The council also thinks the time has arrived when the territorial system could be advantageously abolished, and the Government be urged to use every means to bring returned soldiers back to civil life Cr. Hancock considered the territorial camps were a waste of public money, because when tho boys were called up to fight they had to be taught something different Crs were agreed. The chairman thought that it was good physically for tho lads, besides which it gave them discipline Unit in many cases they could uot get at 1. .ie. Cr Mackay did not agree with buys coming to town once a week, but he strongly favored lads up to the age of 21 going into camp for a month each year, as they get discipline there and he would not care about his boys coming in. The camp would also be a holiday. Tli'- letter was received as members did ....t care to see the whole system abolished.