DEFENCE FORCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13839, 27 August 1908, Page 6

DEFENCE FORCES.

THE COUNCIL'S REPORT.

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington', Wednesday. The report for the year ended February 29, 1903, by the Council of Defence, was presented to Parliament to-night, The report states that as it has been decided by the Government that the present ■system of voluntary enlistment (and without, pay) is to continue the attention of the Council must be devoted to endeavouring to obtain a higher standard of efficiency under that system. To do this it is absolutely necessary that means may be devised whereby the whole of the field fore* shall do a? much work as possible by daylight in the field, the larger units (regiments and battalions) being brought together as often as possible, and the various arms of which the force is composed working together more frequently than at present. In order that all officers, and especially those of higher ranks, may obtain some knowledge of their work it is the intention of the Council to so revise the regulations governing the earning of capitation and payment for daylight parades that tin object may be attained. Attention will also be devoted to encouraging ex-volunteers fcc join reserve corps, to the affiliation of reserve corps and rifle clubs, to existing volunteer units, and the payment of capitation or pay. for daylight work to such members of the above as actually turn out for field work with the units to which they ate affiliated. A promotion board will be established to deal with promotions above the rank of captain (this course is followed in England and Australia). The board will consist of the Inspector-General, the officer commanding the district, and the senior combatant officer of the arm of the service to which the officer whose promotion i< 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, lor the training of future officers, civil engineers, and surveyors. The Council recommends that each officer, in, addition to capitation, on passing for his commission, be granted an annual personal bonus so long as ho remains efficient, as follows: Lieutenants, £2 10s: captain, £5; major. £7 10s; lieutenantcolonel, £10, for tile maintenance of his uniform, upkeep of his position, etc., to include officer's of defence cadets, except that half of the above rates be paid. Further, that a board of selection be set. up in each district which will select and forward names for the approval of the Council of Defence when vacancies or openings for promotion occur, preference by right to be given to officers or non-commissioned officers in the forces, provided the board is satisfied of their fitness, before recourse is made to selection from outsiders: a list to be opened where gentlemen desirous of becoming officer," may register and receive preliminary training, from which list the board mar select, when necessary to go outside those at present serving. K election must be adhered to the board of selection should approve of candidates. i Regarding the efficiency of officers the Council recommends that til officers be required, in order to draw the annual allowance before-mentioned, to be tested every three years as to fitnss, failing which they will be placed "on the reserve list; officers on the reserve list failing to maintain their efficiency to the satisfaction of the officer commanding the district, to be placed on the retired:list: the age limit of officers and rank and file as pe.v regulations to be adhered to.- ; ■'.'•■' ■ T ' r :

ORGANISATION OF TROOPS.

INCREASED EXPENDITURE.

[IIY. TEI.K-iR.'.rH. — CORftKSPO,^kNT'.]

Wellington, Wednesday.' It i* stated by the Department oi the chief of genera.]' staff thi'.t there is much yet to be done in the- "field force," regiments and battalions at present being so merely in name. Squadr.-ais and companies do not poem in voluntarily give .that allegiance to their corps r:*XN}ss.ary_ to eiisiiro the true regimental and battalion spirit. It is edniited that the training of a ion.* is by squadrons and companies, but in war thrift unit-; tuiifot bo adminiftterßc! and opera-e under regimental <cga.mwU.-ion. What is not practised in pe:*o.s mutt fail in war.

The enrolled strength of the for-jes is 19,947. It is expected thai little if any change in drills will. he mane for a considerable time, so that from now forward there will be general unifc-nnity of work and training throughout the Dominion. It is hoped that in the near future art infantry officer instructor will be. available in eacn district, who will take special charge of musketry instruction and musketry practice, "Intelligence" information .is furnished to the War Office, London, where the work has been much appreciated. The interchange of intelligence with the War Office is of the greatest value to New Zealand, and would immediately .become apparent if trouble arose. It is hoped by the end of the year to have the veterinary branch in thorough working order. The medical branch lias been reorganised. It is intended to establish, if possible, a email nucleus of an Army Service Corp^. In regard to finance, the sum of £176,"3.'> was spent out of the Consolidated Fund last year. For the current year £214,470 will bo required to provide- for the increased pay of the Permanent Force; £60,420 will hi needed our, of the Public Works fund. The sum of £11,598 was spent on the erection and additions to drill-sheds, and £8330 in respect of rifle ranges. The estimated amount required to be voted this year ander contingent defence is £20,000, which provides for the purchase _ of, six field guns, erection of and additions to drill-sheds, acquirement of rifle ranges, and other expenditure incidental to the vole in connection with fixed harbour defence. The sum of £15.000 is asked for in order to cany out work of an important nature in connection with the defence of our principal ports. The* percentage of attendance of adult volunteers at the Easter manoeuvres wa-s: Auckland 27, Wellington 64, Nelson 47, Canterbury 50, Otago 35. EFFICIENCY AND TRAINING. SCATHING CRITICISM. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL C'OHRKSPONDKNX.] Wellington , Wednesday. The Inspector-General, in bis report, states new Works are in progress in Wellington, and Auckland, the former of which will be completed in a comparatively short time. The latter, owing to the conditions under which it is being carried out, will take much longer. " i am convinced/' says Colonel Davies, " that more attention should be devoted to training foi tiring from direct instead of covered positions. By direction of the Council of Defence this has been done this rear, and very nearly all, if not all, the tiring has been direct. I consider that the Garrison Artillery are, and will always be, much bctui prepared than any other branch, and the efficiency of the men they have is steadily progressing. Three of the field engineer corps are said to do good work. One corps is very backward and has deteriorated. It is not worth the expenditure on it. Like the mounted rifles the infantry corps vary very much in usefulness and efficiency. A few corps in each district are really excellent ; n all the work they do, have' excellent discipline, and in some rases, where they have exceptionally enthusiastic and capable officers, every effort is made by the latter to get as much daylight training as possible. There are some eorps (about 20) so bad and useless "n every way that there is no justification at all for the expense incurred upon them in their present state. In many corps the noncommissioned officers, and sometimes the officers, have little or no idea of instructing or handling their men. cannot, sometimes carry out the simplest manoeuvres (such as putting half a dozen men quickly into any required position), have practical Iv no knowledge of field duties, fire control, or file discipline, and I have even several times found that they have not been able to sight rifles correctly when instructed to show men who were ig,_aorftnt. . ■•.;,,: