THE DEFENCE SCHEME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 318, 6 July 1912, Page 4

THE DEFENCE SCHEME

REPORT BY THE COMMANDANT. A RECORD OF PROGRESS. (By Telegraph—Parliamentary j Reporter.) j Wellington, Last Night. "In view of the fact that the period under review is one of the initiation of a scheme of universal service, and that the training has been entirely of an elementary nature and practically confined to recruits, I do not propose to report on the efficiency of the forces to take the field. I shall hope to do so next year." In these terms the Commandant of the New Zealand Forces (General Godley) prefaces his report presented to Parliament bv the Minister of Defence (Hon. A. Myers) in the House of Representatives this afternoon. STAFF CORPS. The present strength of the New Zealand staff corps, the General goes on to say, is sixty-five, and it is not proposed to take in any more officers to fill the establishment of 100, except through the Royal Australian Military College, as recommended by Lord Kitchener. It would be obviously unfair to those cadets now in training there to bring in any one over their heads, and in the meantime we must make the best of it and work short-handed till they become available. THIRTY THOUSAND TERRITORIALS. The establishment of the Territorial force is 30.000. which, savs the General, gives a proportion of one permanent officer, non-commissioned officer or man to every fifty Territorials, exclusive of cadets and rifle clubmen. "This proportion," he says, "is very low, but if the present excellent standard of permanent soldiers is maintained, it will, I think, be sufficient for promotion. Arrangements have been made with the War Office for officers of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and New Zealand staff corps to take the same examination under this system, as was held last December, when twenty-one officers sat. The following extract from the report issued by the War Office on the examination is most satisfactory: 'lt is gratifying to note that twenty-one officers of the New Zealand military force attended the examination in subject D. The work submitted was very 'creditable. This was the first examination at which officers of the New Zealand Permanent Artillery forces have been examined in the papers set for officers of the British Regular Army.'" THE CADETS. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. "It is very necessary." the General goes on to say, "that the training'of the boy should he continuous, and under the same authority from the time he commences his cadet training at the age of twelve till he ceases it on joining the Territorial forces at the age of eighteen. There has been a tendency for the junior cadets under the Education Department, the senior cadets under the Defence Department, and the Boy Scouts independently of either department, to pull in different directions. With this object I have made recommendations, to which I hope effect will be given, for the unification of all methods of boys training. I am very strongly of opinion that up to the age of fourteen the training should be of a non-military character. Tt is quite time enough for a boy to embark on his military career at the age of fourteen. I think the boy scout methods may be adopted in a great measure in the traininsr of both junior and senior cadets, and have given instructions that they shall be as far as the latter are concerned. Unavoidable delay in issuing arms, equipment, and clothing to the senior cadets has handicapped the development of their training, but steady progress is now being made.'' REGISTRATION. The registration of all youths Available for training up to the 31st M.'.y has resulted as follows: District. Terri- Senior Totals torials. Cadets. Auckland ... 7005 001R 10.083 Canterbury .. 0140 7013 14.-W Ota™ ". 0084 0-151 V?.. 530 Wellington .. 8202 10,115 15.317 Totals 28,000 33.107 01.708 From the latest census returns available it appears that 27,080 between the ages of 18 and 21 were liable r "r ventral ion as Territorials, and ?." ""v between the ages of 14 and IS as senior cadets. It will thus be seen that the registration of Territorials has been in

excess of those estimated to he liable. The shortage of 2501 in the senior cadets is accounted for by the fast that about that number of boys over the age of 14 are still at primary schools, and are, therefore, included in the junior cadet* RESERVE AMMUNITION. A reserve of small arms ammunition, as recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee, is being gradually built up, and it is anticipated that the total reserve required will he completed in three or four years' time without any further increase in the present annual output,, and, consequently, without any extra expense. An increased order for cordite has been placed, to meet requirements under the existing contract, with the Colonial Ammunition Company. WIRELESS. Experiments with wireless telegraphy are being carried out. A transmitting and receiving station is being set up at Dorset Point, and a receiving station at, Port Ballanee. "If." adds the General, signalling between the above stations is found possible they should be able to establish communication with wireless stations on land and sea at considerable distances." Unless the stations arc synchronised in a special manner permanent stations could be set up to meet all military requirements at small expense, ami the Oeneral savs that he proposes shortly to make recommendations with regard to them AVIATION.' "The question of aviation," says the Oeneral, "has been under the consideration of the general staff, and preliminary arrangements have been made for the training of certain officers and noncommissioned officers in this important subject, but till a year when the training has become advanced and our expenditure has become normal. I do not propose to make any definite recommends tion or incur any expenditure in connection with the purchase rrf aeroplanes. We must learn to walk before we attempt to flv." FINANCE. Owing to the non-arrival of the new field guns from Home, the nionev voted on last year's Estimates for payment for them has not been expended, and the vote of the Department is therefore considerably underspent. This will necessitate the provision on this year's Estimates of a similar sum to meet this capital and non-reeurrent expenditure. As regards the future 1 am confident that the normal annual expenditure on a Territorial force of 30.000 men, 3.),0O0 senior cadets, and a second line of 25,000 rifie club ■ men need not exceed the amount originally stated in Parliament by Lord Kitchener." CONCLUSION.

"In conclusion," savs the Oeneral, "I i wish to bring specially to your notice the excellent work that has been done by all the permanent officers and noncommissioned officers, and hv the civilian staffs of the department in initiating the new scheme. Those who were taken on locally in order to start it have, almost without exception, more than justified their selection. Ido not, think' that the magnitude of the undertaking has been generally realised, and 1 am" convinced that luid it not been for the tact, loyalty, and unceasing hard work of nil those who have been concerned in its inception, there would have been little chance of its having become already practically an assured success. The success has also been due in a great measure to the interest and cordial cooperation shown \ij the Territorial officers of all ranks,' most of whom. I am glad to say, have taken their military responsibilities very seriously. Thev evidently do not intend that their military knowledge shall suffer more than can possibly be helped from the fact that they are not able to devote all their time to soldiering."