COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING The scheme continued until 1957
when altered commitments – the decision, taken in 1955, to
provide a division in South-East Asia – caused the Government to
reduce the strength of the force required from 33,000 to 23,000
men. As a result the age limit for trainees was raised to 20,
the annual intake was reduced to 5,600, and the Reserve
liability was cut to three years. Following political changes in
1957 the new Government decided (in 1958) to abolish compulsory
military training. New Zealand's strategic interest in South-
East Asia indicated that existing arrangements did not provide a
sufficiently flexible or mobile force. It was decided to provide
a Regular Army field formation (including an armoured regiment)
having an establishment strength of 5,600 men. There would be a
Regular Force of 2,500 and, as from 1 April 1959, a volunteer
Territorial Force of 7,000. As any war in South-East Asia was
likely to require a highly trained force at short notice, the
23,000-strong division