OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 7

OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

THE NEW SYSTEM ON TRIAL. ■ , On January 5 last, the old systom of administration and control of tho New Zealand Dofeimo Forces by a general officer commanding and staff, was changed, giving placo to the New Zealand' Defence Council, which was constituted as follows:— . President, The Right Hon. Sir J. G •: "Ward, K.C.M.G., Minister for Defence. • Chief of the General Staff and First Military Member, Col. A. W. Robin, 0.8. •■■-.' Adjutant and Quartcrmnstcr-Gcnera] - . and Second Military Member,- Col.- H. D. Tuson (Manchester Regiment).

. Inspector-General and Third Military .Member, Col. R. H. Davios. C.B. , -.Finance Membor, Col. R. J. Collins, V.D. Secretary and Member, Col. W. H. '~ .Wobb: Thc'.Council.held its first meeting .on January 7. ' ■ ' In. olabpra.tijig its policy tho Couiicil decided that, after taking circumstances into ppnsideration, the defence of the country would, for tho present, • continue purely .voluntary. .Regulations would be drafted to further encourage enlistment and promote efficiency; the powers and initiative of district commanders were to bo increased, and, in'general, every endeavour was to be mado in order to popularise tho Forces in tho eyes of the public. Tho statement of policy concluded with' a significant paragraph:— .''■ Should : tho'Volunteer Force not bo maintained or brought up to (ah efficient state, volunteering has had its last chance. If the gqhpral public are in earnest as to defence, they, must themselves assist and insure that under the. Volunteer system suffiqient enlistment is made, and that once mon arc enlisted they attend regularly.. The' alternative is a .'system of universal or compulsory training, whereby .the burden of service in the Defence Forces jvill be more evenly distrir butbd." v ■'•'..'. It is early, even yet,' to criticise tbe work of-tho now administration, as a certain allowance must . in. fairness bo made for the Gounoil .to thoroughly organise its system. Sufficient indications have already - been shown, however, which go fo provo that the chango has been a wisp one. A. keen enthusiasm has replaced i the somewhat perfunctory spirit which characterised .the previous regime, a happy stato of affairs which is largely duo to;;tho policy pf entrusting to .our local mon tho 1 responsibility of defending the country. One of the. most important features, of the work has been tho organising of instruction classes for officers. Tjie utmost enthusiasm was by officers of.Voljmtosr'and defence cadet corps towards tbo classes, which wore largely attended. Tjie co.ufso of instruction was necessarily limited as to. duration of time, and a good deal had,, in consequence, to bo coniprcsscd within the' limits of thojciasse's, but by strenuouß work and. early rising the officers: covered tho ground, and tho results should bo seen in tho mcroased efficiency of their respective corps. Instructional classes for " non.-conis." have also* been held, and much good has already resulted; Instead of a superficial appreciation of their duties, officers and " non-coms," have, now a certain amount of sound practical knowledge which will cpnduco to' thoroughness in their work.. ■/■ In tho Wellington Military District, commanded by I/iout.-Col. Arthur Bauchop, C.M(Cr—whose staff includos Captain T. W. Jl'Donald, Assistant Adjutant-Goneval; P.S.'Captain .C. H. Turner, Assistant Quar-termasto.r-Goneral; Captain W., H. Morton, Intelligence Officerj and Surgeon Lieut.-Col. Hon. VI. B. Collins, ; M.B.—tho strength of the. various companies shows, on the whole, a dpcrease, as compared \vith tho figures for 1906., Tho figures are as follow;— ■' 1906. • 1907. . Field Artillerv '... ... , 90 ... 92 Garrison Artillery . .... - 241. ... 223. Engineers:/ .'.. ... 165 ... 108 'Mounted Rifles'. ■ 1034 ... ' 854 i . Infantry Corps.:. ■'-..■ ...,'2IOB ... .1960 •Field , Hospital and • Bearer Corps... • ... 39 ... 26 . Defenco Cadets ' ... 1126: ... 1046 Miifio Clubs /'.:.. , ... 1707. ...(1860 :' : ',\' ! Total strength'.. ...(6510. '■.;';■; 6169 ■'■ (The Wellington Rifle Bat'taljon has been re-staffed; owing to tho elevation of; its old commander; Col. Collins,; to-a' seat in the •D.cfonce Council. The .battalion staff is niado up as follows:— Officer-Commanding, Liout.Col.W. G, Duthje; Major 0. D. Mackintosh, second in 1 command; Adjutant, Captain J. A. Cowles; Quartermaster, Captain 'V. B. Mabin. ■"■ Tho chief ovent'of, tho year'lias been the. excellent. big-gun practice by tho J'otone Navals. (at Fort .Kelburno, Ngahfluranga, during their, annual: camp of instruction. 1 In fact, . 'field and" garrison artillery ; ; .corps throughout New Zealand havo shown, a steady, improvement, ail,, round, and this is duo. iii''. no small measure, to tho personal enthusiasm displayed'by the. Director of Artillery, Captain G.S...(Rjchardson.