OUR DEFENCES. REPORT OF THE COMMANDANT. PLAIN TALK.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 59, 7 September 1905, Page 5

OUR DEFENCES. REPORT OF THE COMMANDANT. PLAIN TALK.

Some interesting information with regard to the Defence Forces of the colony is given by the Commandant (MajorGeneral Babington) in his annual' report to the Minister (Mr. Seddon), which was laid on the table of the House yesterday. ■The Commandant states that important recommendatidns regarding the coast de.fences of the colony have been submitted, but so far no decision has been received. "It is," ho adds, "urgently required to enable the necessary works, etc., to be proceeded with. Those ports it is decided upon to defend should be made secure. Such, works as were in progress during tho past year have iaad»» little advance, and until labour other than, prison labour is employed, no change in regard to this, can be expected. In regard to tho Permanent Force the Commandant states that he has submitted proposals for reorganisation of the Force, "the present state of which is capable of improvement." These proposals, he adds, contain recommendations regarding pay, extra-duty pay, promotion, and other matters pertaining to the interior economy und discipline of the Force. The conditions of a Trust Fund, to secure men a bonus on retirement, are also outlined in the scheme. During tho past year, the Commandant continues,-, a large number of men hav-e left to take up employment with tho Tramway Company, etc., where their pay and prospects are both improved. This affects the efficiency of tho Force, and he goes on to say that discipline, too, suffers from the centralisation which exists in regard to it, as well as to the other parts of the Defence Force of the colony. During the past year ten N.C.O.'s and men havo been retired for age. There are, however, says Major-Genoral Babington, still a considerable number too old and who should also be retired. With regard to the volunteers, the Commandant reports that the strength of the Volunteer Force (inclusive of cadets and rifle clubs) on Ist July totalled 18,852, on increase of 89 as compared with the previous year. Tho state of the mounted troops is, he remarks, with" the exception of one district, satisfactory, and tho battalion organisation is producing good results. The shooting is not as good as in the infantry. The caro of horses requires attention, and with the establishment of a veterinary corns it is hoped an improvement will take place. The shooting of the field artillery is not as satisfactory as it should be, and more ammunition for practice should be supplied. The batteries, on the wKole, drill well. The Commandant urges that batteries should go into practice camp for two days annually. This, together with extra ammunition and improved instruction, tho latter of which is being arranged for, would, remarks the Commandant, very materially increase their efficiency. The garrison artillery companies are reported on as being efficient. They arc, nays the Commandant, keen nnd willing and anxious to learn. The field engineering companies are*

with one exception, in a very fairly efiU cient state. Dealing with the infantry, the Commandant states that the state of the infantry is very fairly satisfactory, bub more work in the field ia required. The training camps are not of sufficient valuo to compensate for their cost. "Men arrive in camp, after their ordinary day's work, too late, and in many cases too tired, to receive proper instruction, and have to leave camp early in the morning to get back to their occupations," In the town corps, he goes on to say, many of the men are much younger than used to bo the case, and their physique ia many cases is not as satisfactory as might be desired. The shooting of tho infantry is reported to be, on the whole, good, and the returns show an improvement on last year. The Easter manoeuvres showed tho necessity for more training of the infantry in scouting duties. With regard to medical corps, the report states that the equipment recommended by the Surgeon-General last year has not been obtained. Provision has been made for the establishment of a veterinary corps, and steps are being, taken to secure an officer as principal veterinary officer. There are, the report adds, 3081 cadeta now serving, an increase of 194 on last year. An improvement in drill has takea place, but the equipment of corps is faf from "complete. There are 107 rifle clubs in the colony, an increase of seven. Their position, says the Commandant, should be improved. Eifle clubs should receive an additional grant of ammunition ; they should fire a course of musketry each year, perform a stated number of drills, and, when local circumstances permit, be affiliated to a volunteer corps. The system of holding annual training camps, says the Commandant, is not found to bs quite satisfactory, but ha adds that the marching of the infantryt during the manoeuvres was very good* and the conduct of all ranks was most satisfactory. He recommends that in future such concentrations be held from time to time, not necessarily annually, in on© or two districts, as funds are available. Better supervision, he says, could) be given, and a larger number "of officers would be available for staff and umpiro duties. *At such concentrations attendiance should be nr>de obligatory, and if, held at Easter the Saturday should b« declared a holiday for defence purposes. Dealing with equipments, etc., tha" Commandant urges that S.A.A. carts should be supplied to battalions, and adds that the bandolier equipment approved in 1903 has not yet been completed. Corps should be provided with greatcoats, mesa tins, haversacks, entrenching tools, and, in the mounted corps, nosebags. Tho medical equipment for the forces is far from complete, no veterinary equipment exists, and aupply and transport is also wanting. A satisfactory reserve of rifles has been established. In connection with equipment the Commandant remarks that under the present conditions of service, and without a permanent clothing factory in the colony, it is impossible to suggest a workable system of clothing the Force. The Commandant urges that the establishment of a supply and transport corps should be effected, and is an absolute necessity if the Force is to act in tho field. The situation as regards rifle ranges and drill halls has, he says, been much, improved since his last report, and may be considered on the whole satisfactory. A satisfactory reserve of gun and small arm ammunition, it is reported, has now been established. The Commandant is still of opinion that steps should be taken to establish an ammunition factory in the colony, to render it lesß dependent than it is now. In conclusion, the Commandant remarks that the present Defence Force is not an organised fighting force. A trained staff for headquarters and each district is an absolute necessity. "Without a staff tho most transcendent genius cannot command troops successfully in the field, nor can they be trained in times of peace." An advance, he adds, has been made in this very important matter, and it .is hoped that shortly volunteer officenu will be found to take up the appointments that have been approved. ''No force in this colony," he goes on to say, "will be efficient unless those who should have the executive and administrative control which should appertain to their offices are accorded it. Until this is done efficiency will not exist, and need not be looked for; truo discipline, too, cannot exist." The Commandant states that he has put forward proposals for the reorganisation of the Volunteer Force, providing for a smaller but better trained force, and he remarks that the scheme would be considerably more economical and produce a very much more efficient force than the existiug one. Ho does not fancy thafc ihe enforcement of the Militia Act wouldl be popular in this colony, "and if th« country wishes recurity and value for its money it must accept either such proposals as will conduce to those ends or militarism as part of their constitution." The term of -service, he adds, should be reduced to one year; the majority of th« men worth keeping would continue to serve beyond this, and those not worth: keeping are better away. Fixed rates of pay for the paid officers of the Defence Force should be laid down, and the increments that are obtainable should also bo defined. In many cases, too, at present, the pay of officers* is* insufficient, and out of proportion compared with that received by some who are their juniors in rank. The extreme concentration now existing, says the report, is most detrimental t. 1 ) efficiency. It destroys initiative, weakens authority, and causes most injurious delay. "No business, civil or military, can be expected to flourish under such 4 system." After condemning the system of election of company officers by the corps, the Commandant remarks :—: — "I would again most strongly urv *l\at steps be taken to put the Defence Force of this country in a fit state for service. Coalitions cannot all be foreseen, and the balance of power may be upset without, warning. The^question of the mastery of the Pacific is daily becoming a more momentous one ; vast interests are involved, and the protection of New Zealand will not be the oniy matter England will have to consider when complications arise. The whim or interests of any party or individual should not be allowed to influence the question of national security; the risk of displeasing a few is a very small matter compared with that of disaster to a country. "At present the colony is in the position of an owner who is paying a comparatively large sum for an insurance policy without having taken the steps neces'sarv to render such policy secure. It would be well for the country, too, were it more generally in sympathy witb its deserving volunteer defendere." The committee of the International Exhibition has decided to award ft prize for the best cantata- composed in honour of tho occasion. The cantata must havo a national theme, and must refer to 'the exhibition. Both librettist and composer will Teceive prizes. It is not the intention of the' Government, says the Premier, to bring down a Licensing Act Amendment Bill this ses-; .eioa.. - -