DEFENCE FORCES

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 221, 19 August 1931, Page 3

DEFENCE FORCES

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 19. The strength of the New Zealand Permanent Defence Forces at March 31 was 349, comprising 86 officers and 263 other ranks, according to the annual report of the General Officer Commanding, Major-General W. L. H. Sin-clair-Burgess, which was presented to Parliament yesterday. It is shown that' the compulsory retirements totalled 169, including 19 officers, 117 other ranks, including temporary military personnel, and 33 civil employees. A total of 76 officers and other ranks was retired on superannuation as from March 31, 1931, while the suspension of military training and the reorganisation of the work of the Defence Department permitted of the retirement of 67 members of the staff who were not entitled to a superannuation allowance, A total of 74 members of the Army Ordnance Corps was transferred to tho civil staff.

In paying a tribute to the work of tho Defence Force officers and men during the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, the report states that the total value of the stores issued from the ordnance stores at Trentham was £35,000. Dealing with Air Force matters, the report says the strength of this arm of the service is 10 officers and 45 other ranks, this representing a slight increase over the previous year. Much valuable work was done by the Air Force during the Hawke’s Bay earthquake. Between February 4 and 15, 22 light aeroplanes flew approximately 45,000 miles, carrying urgent stores and passengers. In addition, largo quantities of mail were earned.

The position of civil aviation is illustrated by tho following statistics: Pilots, A license 152, B commercial licence 27; aerodromes. 17; aircraft, 59; ground engineers, 38. Practically no progress was made during the year in the development of commercial air activities. A total of nine aero clubs received assistance from the Government scheme of subsidising light aero clubs. These clubs, operating 30 aeroplanes, of which 16 were on loan from the Government, had themselves trained 190 pilots for the A license. They had received £3OBO on account of subsidies for trained A license pilots. “The total amount voted by Parliament for the year 1930-31, less credits-in-aid, was £332,200, which was to be reduced by economies to be effected during the year, £57,200, to the sum of £275,000,” the report says. “The actual net expenditure for tho year amounted to £277,799, being £2799 in excess of the net sum voted. The net expenditure on military and civil aviation for tho year was £48,749, as compared with £55,102 expended during the previous year; while for other defence purposes the respective amounts were £229,050 and £389,726.”