THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 286, 27 August 1908, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. — i ITS POLICY OUTLINED. Tho report by tho Council of Defence for tho year ending February 29, 1908, which was presented to Parliament yesterday, states that tho policy ; _of dcfenco disclosed in last report has been followed in ovory respect. Regulations have been mado to further encourage enlistment and maintain efficiency. Provision has been mado for forming reserves, for moro decentralisation, increasing tho powers and initiative of I district corn-' manders, and for the completion of tho necessary staffs, and, generally, endeavours have been mado to popularise tho force in tho eyes of tho public. Coast defenco has been considered in conjunction with tho naval authorities, and on the lines laid down by the Imperial Defenco Ciommittcc, and the work proceeded with accordingly, 'l'ho R.N.Z.E. has been reorganised to perform duties in. connection with electric lighting at fixed defonces. TO PERFECT THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. As it has been decided by tho Government that the.-present system (voluntary enlistment and without pay) is to continue, tho attention of tho council must be devoted to endeavouring to obtain a higher standard of efficiency under that system. To'do this it is absolutely necessary that bo devised whereby the whole of the Field Forca shall do as much work as possible by daylight in the field, the larger units (regiments and battajions) being brought_ together as often as possible, and the various arms of which the Force , is ■ composed working together mora frequently than at present in order that"' all ' officers, and- especially those of the higher ranks, may obtain some knowledge of their work. It is the intention of tho. council to so revise tho regulations governing, tho earning of capitation and payment for daylight parades that this object may be attained. Attention will also he devoted to encouraging ox-volunteers to join reserve corps, to tho affiliation of reserve corps and rifle clubs to existing volunteer units, and the payment of capitation or pay for daylight work to such mcmbors of tho above as actually, turn out for field work with the units to which they aro affiliated. '

~ : ..MAKING PROMOTIONS. A Promotion. Board will be established, to deal with promotions above the rank of captain (this course is followed in England arid Australia). The board will consist of— The Inspector-General, the officer command-, ing the district, the senior combatant officer' of the arm of . the service to which the officer whose promotion is under consideration belongs. : The council also strongly recommends for earnest consideration the question of the establishment of a school, on the lines of that at Kingston, Canada, for the training of future 'officers, civil engineers, and surveyors.. . • .UNIFORMS. The council recommends : — , That greatcoats bo supplied to the rank and file, field service uniform to be maintained as at present out of capitation, but Dress Regulations must be adhered to. • That each officer,, in addition to capitation, on passing'for his commission,, bp granted an annual personal bonus,- so long as he remains efficient, as follows Lieutenant, £2 10s.; captain; £5 ; major; £7 10s.; lieutenantcolonel, £10 for tho maintenance of his uniform, upkeep of his position, etc. To include officers of defence cadets, except that half of the above rates bo paid.

SUPPLY OF OFFICERS. The' council further recommends.. that _ a Board of Selection be set up in each district, which will select and forward names for approval of Council of Defence, when'vacancies or openings for promotion occur, preference by riglit to be given to officers'or noncommissioned officers in the forces, provided the board is satisfied of their fitness, before recourse is made to selection from outsiders. A list' to bo opened where gentlemen desirous of becoming officers may register and receivo preliminary training, from which list board may select .when necessary to. go outside those at present serving. If Section must be adhered.to, tho Board of Selection should approve of candidates before they go lip for election. That all officers be required, in order to draw the annual allowance before mentioned, to be tested every three years as to fitness, failing which they will ,bo placed on the Resorve List. Officers on the Reserve List failing to maintain their efficiency to the satisfaction of the O.C. District, to be placed on the Retired List. Tho age ; limit, of officers and rank and file, as per regulations, to be adhered to. • . ■

STRENGTH OF THE FORCES. Tho enrolled strength of . the' Defence Forces at the. end of-the volunteer year, February 29, 1908, was as follows:— ; Dec. Inc. Headquarters Staff ... .14 — 6 District Staff ... ' 50 — . 5 R.N.Z.A. ... ... 307 54 — Garrison Artillery ... 1001 — 72 Field Artillery ... ... 361 100 — . Field Engineers ... 439 31 — , Mounted ' Rifles ... 3923 266- — Infantry ... - ... 6118 763 — Field Ambulance ... 215 — 4. Defence Cadets ... 3158 —' 64 Rifle Clubs ... ... 3369 — 228 Bands ... 449 — 307 Unattached officers ... 151 50 Reserves ... ... 215 — 215 -Medical Staff ... • ... 165 : . 165 Veterinary Staff ... 12 — 12 Total ... ...19947 1214 1128 •There are ajso 189 militia officers on' the army list; . ' RECOMMENDATIONS. Further recommendations of tho council, or forecasts of its policy, may be summarised as follow: — ' Simple training of rifle clubs and their affiliation to volunteer corps. Appointment of an officer for infantry instruction for tho South Island. An infantry officer instructor to be available in each district ,to take special charge of musketry instruction and musketry practice. ■ ' ' ' - ■' . Veterinary lectures and demonstrations to bo given at camps. / A sanitary branch of the Medical Department to be formed. , _ '■/ Nucleus of an Army Service Corps to be formed. A reserve of accoutrements to be. built

up. Estimates for tho year, £214,470 (amount spent last year, £176,420). Increased pay to Permanent' Forces, £60,420. Contingent Defence, £20,000 (sis field guns, drill sheds, rifle-ranges, etc.).. Harbour defence, £15,000. Service matches at tho Trcnthain . rifle meeting. . ' . ' VOLUNTEER STATISTICS. . The number of adult volunteers, all ranks, who capitated as efficient for the year ending February 2S, 1904, was 11,419; for the year 1905, 10,773; for the year 1906,-11,051; for the year 1907, 10,546, and, so far as the returns yet to hand (June 80) for the year ending February 29, 190S, the number is 10,336. (The average number of recruits under twenty years of age who enrolled in adult corps 'during the past five years has been 372*2. Tho total strength-of tho adult Volunteer force, all ranks, on February 29, 1908, was 13,049. The decrease of adult volunteers between February, 1907, and February, 1908, has been 607.Nino adult volunteer corps (one Artillery and eight mounted rifles and infantry) were disbanded during the year. The number of ■ adult Volunteers at tho. Easter manoeuvres, 1908, was 5935.