LAND FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1938, Page 7

LAND FORCES

DECLARED TO BE SERIOUSLY INADEQUATE CONFERENCE OF SENIOR OFFICERS UNIVERSAL TRAINING ADVOCATED (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. A serious view of the present state of the land forces in New Zealand was taken at a conference of senior officers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, held in Wellington recently. It was unanimously agreed that the provision for the establishment of training was hopelessly inadequate, and in a manifesto issued yesterday the opinion was expressed that though the system of voluntary enlistments had been in force for seven years, at no time during that period had it been possible to fill effectively even the peace-time establishment of the force. The manifesto urged the re-establishment of universal military training. The conference of senior officers of the N.Z.E.F. was the first held since the end of the Great War and was called to consider the present position of the land forces of the Dominion. The conference was convened by Major-General Sir A. H. Russell, who presided. Other officers present were: Major-General Sir Donald McGavin, Colonel S. M. Inglis, Colonel H. E. Barroughclough, Colonel J. J. Esson, Colonel R. St J. Beere, Colonel J. H. Whyte, Colonel J. Findlay, Colonel C. G. Powles, Colonel A. B. Charters, Lieut-Colonel H. E. Avery, LieutColonel H. Holderness, Lieut-Colonel L. H. Jardine, Lieut-Colonel G. Mitchell, Lieut-Colonel D. Colquhoun, and Lieut-Colonel A. H. Herbert. NO REFLECTION CAST The conference took a serious view of the present situation, and after a long discussion decided to make its conclusions public in the form of a manifesto. In doing so, the conference desired it to be clearly understood, in advance, that it did not wish to cast any reflections upon past or present administrations for the existing state of affairs, and it considered that the volunteers of all ranks were certainly entitled to the best thanks of the community for their loyal and devoted services.

The manifesto stated that the following were the principal matters which led the conference to the conclusion that the present provision for the establisment of training of land forces in New Zealand was hopelessly inadequate:— “Although the system of voluntary enlistments has been in force for seven years it has at no time during that period been possible to fill effectively even the peace time establishment of the force. That establishment is about 9000, and of these only about 3000 attended camp last year. The conference was of opinion that a force of even 9000 was grossly inadequate if the country is to discharge its obligations to itself and to the Empire. Of the depleted number of 3000 it is estimated that not more than one-third are of sufficient age and physique for active service. A very small proportion of the force remains with the colours long enough to attain any useful standard of efficiency. The present system is not attracting in sufficient numbers the type of men from whom satisfactory leaders can be selected. NO RESERVE CREATED “There is no obligation on the recruit once he is enlisted to serve for any specified period, with the result that there cannot exist that standard of discipline which is essential in a fighting force. The system is not creating any trained reserve. The energies of the territorial officer are exhausted almost wholly in the effort of obtaining recruits and securing their attendance at parades. He has insufficient time for his real task, which is the command and training of his men. Units are of insufficient strength to enable them to carry out effective, collective training, or to afford their officers the necessary experience in command and tactical handling of troops. “Having regard to the foregoing considerations the conference was of opinion that the country is not getting a satisfactory system of defence in return for the money which is being expended. It is to be borne in mind,” states the manifesto, “that the fate of New Zealand may be determined overseas, and that the dispatch of an expeditionary force may become necessary, but this will be a matter for the decision of the Government of the day.

“The conference is of opinion that the defence system of New Zealand should be such that it will produce an ample supply of man power, efficiently trained, properly organised and equipped, and immediately available to meet any emergency. To this end it urges the re-establish-ment of universal military training.

“It is therefore recommended that at the age of 18 every youth other than those physically or mentally deficient, should be liable for training and undergo a course of recruit training at established centres for a period of not less than three months. At the conclusion of that period recruits to be drafted to territorial units in such numbers as are found necessary to complete establishments and to carry out with those units the prescribed course of training which should include 14 days’ continuous service in each year, for a period of not less than four years.

“The conference recognise that in time of emergency the mobilisation of •all the resources of the country will be absolutely necessary, but the general application of this principle is a matter upon which the conference claims no expert knowledge and therefore makes no further comment. Letters were read from BrigadierGpneral A. E. Stewart, Colonel R. C. Allen and Colonel A. G. McKenzie, expressing themselves as being in favour of the re-establishment of universal military training.