DOMINION DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 35, 10 February 1909, Page 9

DOMINION DEFENCE.

COLONEL ROBIN INTERVIEWED. A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. Colonel Robin, Chief of Staff, and first military member of the Council Of De- ' fence, was in a hopeful vein when discussing with a " Post" reporter the proI spects of volunteering for' the coming ; year, as disclosed 'by the records and in- ! dications of the Volunteer year which I closes on the 28th February. He recalled j the fact that on December 31st last the j total of all arms stood at 20,233, which I was an increase of 326 over the figures ; for the period up to the similar date of 1 1907, and a greater total than any previously recorded, even during the time of I the Anglo-Boer war, when the standard jas to Volunteer recruits was not as I rigidly enforced as was the case now- ! adays- It had been prophesied that the j raising of the nrininmum age for Volunj teers from seventeen to eighteen would result in a falling-off of strength, but results had proved otherwise. There was good reason to suppose that the records of last December would be maintained and 1 probably exceeded during the month now I current. It was satisfactory to note I that the recruiting of companies was fepoken of as ibeing much less difficult, now than it had been, though an exception was the ease in regard to Canterbury. OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS. Asked as to the latest developments for the encouragement of Volunteering and effective training, Colonel Robin-said that there was now a scheme practically ! completed for the institution in New Zea- • land of what are known as officers? trainings corps in connection with the universities. A lot of good had been done in Great Britain through the instituting ot ' such corps, and the New Zealand Council Defence had endeavoured to adapt the ! Home regulations to suit New Zealand conditions and needs. The scheme would provide for Volunteer companies and I cadet companies in connection withuniveri sities and high schools being utilised for and induced to turn their attention, to the special preparation of officers. One merit of the scheme would be in .the fact i that promising men, although in the [ ranks, would have opportunities of being I trained for the position of officers instead lof only two or three actual subalterns, jas former custom had required. The : innovation, he thought, was sure to prove popular, for requests for such a scheme had been made already by some of the leading universities. MUSKETRY PRACTICE. Referring to the amended conditions dealing with musketry practice, Colonel Robin pointed out that the tests could be carried out in connection with the week-end trophy competitions, and thus there will be effected a saving of time and expense. Further, the musketry regulations for 1909 are at present in the hand 3of the Government printer, and before very long an issue of them will be made to the Volunteers- They j have been prepared with an eye to New Zealand conditions, and in them will be i found twenty schemes varying in scope I from one to suit four men (or a patrol) 'up to exercises for a complete battalion. THE EASTER CAMP. The Council of Defence was awaiting i with some degree of interest an indicai tion by the rifle clubs of the Dominion as Ito the extent to which they will respond jto the Council's invitation for riflemen to go into camp at Easter and take part jin two days' special training in field firing, etc. OFFICERS FOR ENGLISH TRAINING. Colonel Robin expressed satisfaction at the general interest that had been aroused by the Government's decision to send a further batch of New Zealand officers to England to receive special instruction in such military work as would be likely to prove of special value to New Zealand. A goodly number of officers were offering themselves for selection, and, as the number to be sent is but four, there will have to be a process of selection. The officers are to be sent to England, with an instruction that they must go wherever the Home authorities see fit to send them. The points as to places of study will be decided with regard to what New Zealand specially requires, but it will be a sine qua non that a course of instruction at the Hythe school of musketry will be part of the New Zealanders* instructional course, for everyone is agreed that proficiency in rifle fire is of the utmost importance in the science of modern warfare. The folio-wing account of a funeral hoax appears in Thursday's issue of the Hutt and. Petone "Chronicle":—On Tuesday afternoon, at 2.45, Messrs. Anstis : and Simpson had waiting outside their stables, Lower Hutt, a hearse, two cabs, two gigs, and a, wagonette, which were ordered by a Wellington firm to take the body of one S -, Bay-street, Petone, to the cemetery. After waiting some considerable time for the undertaker, a messenger was sent to Bay-street to inquire why the conveyances had not been sent for. Word was sent back to the effect that *he supposed corpse was very much alive, and was sorry that he could not avail himself of the excursion to Taita so kindly arranged on his behalf! Whereat the horses were unharnessed and sent to the stables, while five sadfaced padl-bearers discarded their solemn robes and resumed tiheir ordinary avocation. There i* only one WOLFE'S (the original) SCHNAPPS. Evening wear for men. A small lot of cotton pyjamas to go at 2/11 while the I Una lasts. Only a few dozen. Geo. : •JTowlde.—jAd.). -