DEFENCE FORCES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10095, 7 September 1925, Page 2

DEFENCE FORCES

COMMANDANT’S ANNUAL 1 REPORT.

“HIGH STANDARD OF INDITI-. dual FEFiLhILW'i.

■ csami/ani oxjtyiyadS) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. The report of the Cbmimvndnnt of the ‘New Zealand Military Forces was presented to Parliament by S'ir Heaton Rhodes to-day. Jlie Conirmandaut says:— “The high standard of individual efficiency of the permanent forces referred to in my last report has been fully maintained during the year under review. To keep up-to-date and to follow the constant developments in armament equipment, military science and methods, and to ensure the latest and uniform instruction makes constant and careful study imperative on the part of all concerned. The'time''required for this study and for preparation ior promotion and other examinations, is very limited with the permanent forces reduced to an absolute minimum, there being no spare or emergency numbers. W ith constantly-increasing duties of training and administration, the temporary absence of officers abroad undergoing special training, and also tho inevitable vacancies due to retirement and other causes occurring each year, much extra work falls to the lot of individual members of the. .permanent forces, many of whom are. performing the duties of two or more appomibments. The hearty co-operation _of commands -and regimental district staffs, and tho loyal work of- all concerned has enabled the above difficulties to be met without any interruption' of training administration. That these duties have been so continuously and effectively prepared reflects great credit on the New Zealand permanent forces, and it is very satisfactory to me to be able to report so favorably upon the efficiency of all ranks,, whose efforts have at all times been characterised by excellent team work. . “The permanent forces of this Dominion, in addition to providing an expert and technical instructional and administrative staff in time of peace, also form a- very essential part of the wider organisation and cadres for mobilisation and war. Much careful studv and preparation have been devotee! to these requirements during the last year, and should the necessity arise, I feel confident that the smooth working of these plans will demonstrate the care and foresight which have been exercised in their preparation.’ ’ THE TERRITORIAL FORCE. The strength of the Territorial force is now 781 officers and 19,23 b other ranks. The obligatory training laid down for the year was as follows: (a) Six days’ continuous training; (b) six half-day parades; (e) twelve drills: •(d) prescribed “rifle course to be carried out during the half-day parades under (b). This .programme was a distinct improvement on that of the previous year, in that though the actual hours of instruction were not increased, it definitely re-ii-troduccdj after a lapse of some seven years, a period of continuous training ior the Territorial force and this information was promulgated at a course of-special training which was arranged lor officers, warrant officers and non-commis-sioned officers. The imantile paralysis epidemic interfered with the year’s training. A very marked • feature of these camps was the keenness of all ranks and the good discipline and spirit which prevailed. With a scheme of territorial training suc-h as that at present in operation —one which, for financial reason's, is strictIv limited in its application —it is inevitable that there are many inherent difficulties. A very marked characteristic of those eligible for territorial training is the constant change of residence from one part of the Dominion to another. The General states that to solve these and other difficulties and to meet the natural increase in number.? consequent upon the growth of the population, it will he uecessa.ry to concentrate more on collective training by increasing the time of continuous training in camp and by reducing to a minimum the number of periodical drills and parades. This will permit of the present very limited training areas (i.e., country within a radius of three miles of an established drill centre) to he extended, thus ensuring a greater universality in the application of the Defence scheme. It will also provide a more economical and progressive system of training, and as it will interfere less with ordinary avocations apd civil life, I feel confident that it will prove more acceptable to the troops themselves and also to their employ- “ The Mounted Rifles arm of the service is now stronger in men than it has been for several years, but the scarcity of horses suitable for military work is a disquieting feature, which retards progressive training. With the re-introduction of continuous training, this difficulty may he lessened by extending the training radius so as to embrace rural areas, where horses are more plentiful. Good progress has been made this year in the artillery, especially by those batteries which went into camp. Shell .practice was carried out while the units were in camp with satisfactory results, considering the limited training now performed. The difficulty of obtaining suitable and sate ranges for modem artillery with the increased range of the modern guns is mentioned, and the necessity for an adequate reserve of gun ammunition is emphasised.