THE DEFENCE FORCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13263, 23 August 1906, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

GENERAL BABINGTON'S BE PORT.

POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

DEPARTMENTAL FRICTION.

[BY TELEGHAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington", Wednesday. , Oxk of the most interesting of the many reports presented to Parliament to-day was that of General Babington, the Commandant of the Forces. The General, in his final report, indulges in some plain talk. He states that the revision of the fixed defences is still under consideration, but it is expected a conclusion as regards this important matter will shortly be arrived at, and the work can tben be proceeded with. Two defended ports are the most that should bo required in New Zealand, and this colony cannot maintain more in an efficient state. It is waste of money to continue inefficient defences. Though the two forts to be fortified are not named, I have the best reason for stating that they are Wellington and Auckland, the former because it. is the capital, and the nearest safe port to the coal supply, and the latter because it is the site of the Calliope Dock. General Babington continues his report as follows: —"'Magazines where necessary ha\-£ no.v* been arranged for, and then construction should shortly be proceeded with. The existing forts are kept in good order, and many improvements in connection with their working have been effected. FIELD ARTILLERY. "As regards field artillery, my recommendation that six 15-pounder guns bo purchased from England has been approved, and when received they will give four fourgun batteries at each of the centres, Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and a, section of 15-poundcrs to replace the obsolete 6-pounders, now in use at Nekon. REORGANISATION. "The proposals for the reorganisation of the permanent force, which I referred to in my report of last year, are still under consideration. It is hoped some conclusion may shortly bo arrived at concerning this important matter. Similarly, my proposals for the reorganisation of the volunteer force have not yet been seriously considered. These latter recommendations are to the effect that a smaller and better trained force should be substituted for the present unwieldy and expensive machine. I believe political reasons aro looked upon as a bar to the carrying out of the main portion of the scheme, but I cannot think that the country would raise any serious objection to a more efficient and less expensive force replacing that now existing, and would, I feel confident, welcome the greater efficiency and less expense which the reorganisation I propose would give it. The difficulty of obtaining suitable officers is increasing. In New Zealand no leisured class, as in England, practically exists, and every volunteer officer has his own private business to attend to. Recruiting, too, is becoming a very much more difficult matter, and the less* cordial relations which apparently now exist, between employer and employee, as compared to a few years ago, is a serious menace. The training of the force during the last year has. proceeded as satisfactorily as the present conditions of service admit, an advance in efficiency has been made, and the returns show an improvement both in gun and in musketry practice. POOR PHYSIQUE. " The physique of some of the town corps is very poor. The question of how to attract 'the athlete has been carefully considered, but no solution to this problem is so far forthcoming. In order to improve matters in this respect, gymnasia should be established. With an attractive as well as a useful course, much benefit, both directly and indirectly, would be acquired. EFFICIENCY TESTS. " Endeavour is being made to inaugurate challenge shields for all branches of the volunteer force for efficiency tests. To earn- this out the sum of £163, which the Government has undertaken to subsidise £ for £, is required. An appeal made to the. civil authorities in each district has. resulted:— Canterbury district, £100 (donated by Mr. (i. G. Stead): Otago district, £7 2s ; Nelson district, nil. This result does net indicate a great interest, on the part of the public in the efficiency of the volunteers. Field-firing on an extended scale was for the first time in New Zealand carried out last Easter at several centres. The results on the whole were satisfactory. To make Easter manoeuvres of real value to the force, however, at tendance must be made obligatory, and the Saturday declared a statutory holiday for defence purposes. I have recommended that a Manoeuvre Act. should be submitted for consideration of Parliament. This is essential if satisfactory instruction is to be carried out, especially at the larger centres. Whilo much remains to be done towards educating tho public to a sense of their requirements as regards defence, it. is very gratifying to find that much is done by certain individuals towards encouraging volunteering ELECTION OF OFFICERS. " The conference of officers commanding districts has strongly recommended that the Act applying to the election of officers should be altered, and that the Imperial custom bo observed in this matter. In every report I have rendered I have strongly advocated this, and pointed out the evils of the present system. So far, however, nothing has been done to effect a change in this most important matter. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. " The establishment of an. educational system to take the place of the late school of instruction is a question which should receive serious consideration. I have recommended that the sen-ices of a staff college officer for each island should be obtained, and that these officers should carry out, so to speak, peripatetic courses all the year round. Much also could he done by a system of instruction by correspondence, which they could easily inaugurate. OFFICERS' PAY. " The pay of staff and other officers must bo considered. I have frequently urged that, the scale of pay should be fixed and adequate. At present there is no system as regards pay. It is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Defence what remuneration an officer receives for his services, and the pay is such that the wonder is anyone is found to accept appointments. As regards pensions, the Defence Department should be brought under a scheme similar to that of the Police and Railway Departments. It reflects but little credit on the appreciation or generosity of a. country to turn its servants adrift after they have faithfully performed their duties, at times arduous and dangerous, without any provision for themselves or their families. INTERCHANGE OF OFFICERS. "It is to be. hoped that the suggestion of the Imperial authorities bo agreed to [ that a system of an interchange of officers may be established. By this means . the colony would have the benefit of the ' services .of Imperial officers and colonial < officers would receive training with Imperial troops, which would fit them for the ' higher commands in this colony. At present' and under present conditions officers to command districts could not he obtained, and where such vacancies in these appointments occur before the foregoing interchange has been established. 1 strongly recommend Imperial officers be applied ' lor to fill lh«m. . I ;

" I have before referred to the very unsatisfactory 6tate as regards the relationship of the Under-Sec-retary for Defence's section to the Commandant's section of the Defence Department. A vast amount of extra correspondence and very considerable friction is the inevitable result. The officer dealing directly with units as regards pay, etc., should be under the commandant, as in the Imperial sen-ice, and all questions relating thereto should be dealt with by the Commandant under the direction, where necessary, of the Minister for Defence. The duties of a financial secretary should be kept apart. The extreme centralisation and its consequent evils, to which I have also frequently referred, still continues. If officers are to carry out their duties they must, from the Commandant downwards, be accorded the responsibility and authority pertaining to their appointments. In war thi: would have to be done whether rules and regulations permitted it or not, but the most pernicious results of the present system would be then only too apparent, and confusion and disaster would be the result. Given the machine, and the means of fashioning it, the method of doing so should be left to those who will have to control it on service. The system of having what represents the Ordnance Department under the Under-Secretary for Defence is also wrong, and could not. bo continued in war time." ,

The Permanent Force is referred to in complimentary terms, and the General reports in very complimentary terms upon the Garrison Artillery Volunteers.