OUR CITIZEN ARMY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3254, 27 June 1911, Page 3

OUR CITIZEN ARMY.

THE COMMANDANT’S GRATIFICATION. - A PEEP INTO THE FUTURE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.} WELLINGTON, June 26. General Godley was greatly pleased with the appearance of the Cadets at the Coronation review, and with the troops generally, who, lie told his hearers at a social function,* would have done credit to the regulars in many countries. By the time of the next reveiw he expected to have a display quite equal to anything at Home. Speaking of what the Staff had so far done, he said they had secured the 30,000 men they required, but there were several thousand still unregistered. He was especially glad that so many of the old volunteers wished to continue in the ranks. After the. men had done Territorial and reserve service they wanted them to join rifle qlubs until the age ofl 55. At first 45 was proposed but men at that age were so ridiculously young in this country that lie limit was extended. The medical examination was the next tiling, hut it would not be severe, and only what the doctors described as a gross lesion would disqualify, because they wanted to train as many as possible. New and up-to-date guns were now leaving home; horses had been purchased and were being trained. The net result would be that whereas New Zealand had been paying £318,000 per annum for an indifferent army ,of 15,000 with no equipment worth speaking of, no arm-" service corps, and obsolete guns, for £400,000 they’ would get an army of 30,000 prepared to take the field in every respect. General Godley expressed great pleasure at he cordial support lie had received everywhere in the Dominion.