NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 12014, 15 August 1907, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

The following are extracts from the fiist report of the New Zealand Defence Council :— Should the volunteer force not be maintained or brought up to an efficient state, volunteering hns had its last chance. If the general public are in earnest as to defence, they must themselves assist, and eusure that^under the volunteer system sufficient enlistment is made, and that once men are enlisted they must attend regularly. The* alternative is a system of universal or compulsory training, whereby the burden of service in the defence forces will be more evenly distributed.

The strength of the forces for 1906-7 wa9 as follows:— Headquarters staff, 8: district staffs., 45; permanent forces R.N.Z. A. and K.N.Z.E., 361 ; garrison artillery volunteers, 928 ; field artillery, 461 ; submarine and field engineers, 470; mounted rifles, 4189; infantry, 6881; field hospital and bearer corps, 211; defence cadets, 3094 ; rifle clubs, 3141 ; garrison bands, 142; active and unattached officers, 101; grand total, 20,033. This force is distributed as follows:— Auckland, 3397; Wellington, 6750 ;• Kelson, 2310 ; Canterbury, 3237: Otago, 4639;.

The report adds that the efficient carrying out of the several defence schemes for the colony is really depend *ntr on a : sound mobilisation system, not only as applied to the active force, but also to its upkeep and the ; augmenting of the same as the'exigencies of the service demand. Senior officers are being taken more into confidence in this respect, and given opportunities to become more acquainted with their duties in war, it being obvious if these, matters are kept_locked up in one place, officers concerned, not having the chance to study them, cannot be expected to carry out their duties should the emergency suddenly arise.

For this year the Council estimate that £184, 024 will be an increaao of £31,259. This is accounted -Jior in having__to provide extra for small arms, ammunition, cordite, etc t