VOLUNTEER FORCE OF THE COLONY: REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE HELD AT WELLINGTON TO DELIBERATE UPON THE BEST MEANS OF PLACING IT ON A SOUNDER AND BETTER BASIS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1894 Session I, H-24

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1894. NEW ZEALAND.

VOLUNTEER FORCE OF THE COLONY: REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE HELD AT WELLINGTON TO DELIBERATE UPON THE BEST MEANS OF PLACING IT ON A SOUNDER AND BETTER BASIS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Circular Memorandum. Defence Office, loth September, 1894. Having come to the conclusion that many of the Volunteer regulations now in force might be advantageously amended, with a view to adding efficiency to the Force and rendering the service more popular, you are invited to hold a Conference in Wellington, on Friday, 21st instant, to deliberate upon the best means of placing the Volunteer Force of the colony on a sounder and better basis, and it is suggested that a committee be formed for this purpose. The gentlemen to whom a copy of this memorandum has been sent are named on other side, and many, no doubt, will find it convenient to attend. It is proposed that the first meeting should take place at the Parliamentary Buildings, on Friday next, at 10 o'clock a.m., to elect a chairman and determine what course may be adopted for the future consideration of thes? important matters. The officers commanding at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Nelson have been directed to attend, and suggestions have been invited, from the other commanding officers of districts, which will be laid before you in due course. R. J. Seddon, Premier and Defence Minister.

Major-General the Hon. Sir G. S. Whitmore, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., Colonel Francis J. Fox, Lieut.-Colonel Albert Pitt, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Hume, Colonel the Hon. W. D. H. Baillie, M.L.C., Lieut.-Colonel F. Y. Goring, Lieut.-Colonel Stuart Newall, Lieut.-Colonel Henry Gordon, Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Webb, Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. H. Feldwick, M.L.C., Lieut.Colonel the Hon. J. A. Bonar, M.L.C., Major Benjamin Harris, M.H.R., the Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R., Major John Joyce, M.H.R., Captain John Coleman, Captain George Hutchison, M.H.R., Captain the Hon. G. J. Ward, M.H.R., Captain W. C. F. Carncross, M.H.R., Lieut.-Commanding James Allen, M.H.R., Captain the Hon. W. R. Russell, M.H.R., R. McNab, Esq., M.H.R., A. D. Willis, Esq., M.H.R.

Sik, — Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, Ist October, 1894. The Conference which you. have called together having assembled on the 21st September, and having met continuously since.that date, have now the honour to forward to you the result of its deliberations on the subjects which you placed before it. The Conference has been conscious of the fact that the main objects of its existence has been the endeavour on your part to obtain a form of regulations which will work satisfactorily as regards the Volunter Force, secure its efficiency, and be, as far as can be foreseen, to be depended upon for some years. I—H. 24.

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It has heen found that, in order to secure the above object, it will be necessary to amend the present Defence Act of 1886, and the Conference strongly urges that an Amendment Bill may be passed this session. The constitution of the Conference — Four members of the Legislative Council; Ten members of the House of Representatives, all of whom are now, or have been, in the Volunteer Force ; and Seven members of the Permanent Staff; with One, the Acting Under-Secretary of Defence —has insured that all questions dealt with by the Conference have been considered fully as regards their effect or policy, and as regards the direct interests of the Volunteers, while efficiency has been well safeguarded. That the Conference has been imbued with the hope and belief that their recommendations may be of service to the Government, and to yourself, and may be given effect to, has been evidenced by the practically constant attendance of members. The excellent work done by the secretary, Mr. Stratton Royle, is brought to your notice in a separate memorandum, which, the Conference hopes, may be favourably considered by you. I have, &c, G. S. Whitmore, Major-General, Chairman Volunteer Conference. The Hon. the Premier and Defence Minister, Wellington.

Recommendations ov the Conference on Volunteer Matters. 1. That, considering the necessity of having- in time of war a secure harbour for commerce in each island, the harbours of Wellington and Lyttelton should he strengthened. 2. That, taking into consideration the importance of the cable to the colony, this Conference is of opinion that the Government should take steps to protect the cable-station. 3. That it is of the utmost importance that the complete rearming of the New Zealand Forces with the Martini-Henry rifle, which, after full discussion, they believe to be the most suitable arm for the purposes of defence, should be proceeded with at once. 4. That the Permanent Force should first be armed with the Martini-Henry rifle from the five hundred on hand, and the residue be awarded at the four centres and Nelson, to such single Volunteer rifle-corps as may be selected by the officer commanding the district. 5. That there should be at all times, at the five district centres recommended in Colonel Fox's report, a total reserve of small-arms service ammunition of not less than one million rounds, so distributed as to provide that there should not be less than one hundred rounds per man of the nominal strength of the district at each centre. 6. That to provide against the contingency of a failure in the supply of ammunition from England, which, in the opinion of the Conference, is possible in case of any declaration of war, it is highly desirable that a contract for a period of years should be arranged with the Colonial Ammunition Company to supply all the small-arms ammunition, and such other ammunition as they manufacture, the evidence before the Conference proving that the ammunition manufactured by the company is of first-rate quality. 7. That all batteries of field artillery kept up by the Government should he properly armed and equipped. 8. That it is absolutely essential to the proper efficiency of the New Zealand Forces that there should be an officer to be the Commander of the Forces responsible for the discipline and efficiency of the Force as provided in " The Defence Act, 1886," with properlydefined duties, functions, and powers. 9. That clauses 11 and 42 and Part VI., as well as the interpretation clause of "The Defence Act, 1886," should be amended in the direction indicated in the appended document (A), and new clauses be inserted giving officers commanding districts and inspecting officer power to fine under the Act, and also empowering the Minister to make contracts for munitions of war, and appointments to the defence for a period of years. 10. That the volunteer regulations as amended should be adopted. 11. That the uniform of the volunteer corps in the colony should be as laid down in the amended dress regulations. (Memorandum X.) 12. That the musketry regulations as amended should be adopted. 13. That the militia and volunteer districts be redefined.

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14. That the batallion system for rifles, and the brigade system for naval artillery, as laid down in the amended regulations, should be adopted. Memorandum attached (B). 15. That a reserve corps should be created at each centre, as laid down in amended regulations. Memorandum attached (C). 16. That the establishment of corps and companies should be as laid down in the attached form (D). 17. That the naval artillery outside the centres should be modified, and that after the expiration of three years they should be clothed in the general uniform of the volunteer rifles, and should be looked upon as rifle corps from this time. 18. That the two-thirds system of counting parades towards capitation should be amended in the direction indicated in the paper attached, marked (E). 19. That, in addition to those already given to naval corps, efficiency badges, carrying a personal allowance of ,-fil per badge should be issued—four per corps or company —to men of mounted corps, field artillery, engineer, and rifle corps complying with the conditions laid down in amended regulations. Memorandum attached (F). 20. That all corps should be allowed to do certain training annually in camps of instruction, with an allowance of Is. 6d. per man per diem, as laid down in amended regulations. Memorandum attached (G). 21. That the allowance of small-arms ammunition should be increased from 100 to 150 rounds per man per annum, under the conditions as laid down in amended regulations. 22. That the time has arrived when field artillery corps should no longer have issued to them either rifles or small-arms ammunition, but that they should be drilled and equipped and trained entirely within the limits of their own arm; and that naval artillery corps and garrison artillery should only be required to pass through the course laid down for garrison artillery of the Imperial service. 23. That only bands at the centres should be recognised as garrison bands. Memorandum of proposed regulations attached (H). 24. That the New Zealand Rifle Association does not give any practical assistance to volunteering, and is subversive of discipline, and recommends that the grant by the department to this association be discontinued, and the expenditure so saved be divided into shooting prizes for volunteers in the various districts. The Conference also recommends the discontinuance of any grant to rifle clubs. 25. That the volunteer year should end on the last day of February in each year. 26. The Conference, in the knowledge that the present regulations are frequently disregarded and relaxed, bsg strongly to recommend that, if the Government adopt the regulations now submitted, they shall be rigidly adhered to and enforced, and that to insure absolute uniformity no exception shall be made, and that all concerned shall be duly notified of this recommendation. G. S. Whitmore, Major-General, Chairman Volunteer Conference.

A. The Conference recommends that " The Defence Act, 1836," — 1. Shall bs revised ; 2. That the powers of the officer in the position of Commander of the Forces shall be defined; 3. That in clause 11, in the form of oath therein prescribed, the words " Defence Forces " shall be deleted and the words " Permanent Militia," or " Militia," or " Volunteer Force," be inserted ; 4. That clauses 42 and 43 be deleted and the power of election of officers by men of the corps be done away with ; 5. That Part VI. be altered as follows :— Pabt VI. COUBTS OF INQUIRY. 84. Formation of Courts of Inquiry. —-The Commander-in-Chief, the Defence Minister, the Commander of the Forces, and any Officer Commanding a District, may summon, in manner hereinafter contained, commissioned officers of the Defence Forces under their command, to form a Court of Inquiry, which court shall consist of not less than three such officers, of which the senior officer present shall be the President, to examine into the truth of any charge or complaint preferred against any officer, non-commissioned officer, or any other member of the Defence Forces : provided that no officer of the Militia or Volunteers, except those on the permanent staff, shall sit on a Court

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of Inquiry dealing with a complaint or charge relating solely to the Permanent Militia, and that no Volunteer officer can sit on a court dealing with any charge or complaint relating solely to the Militia. Form of Summons. "I, A.B. [rank of officer convening the Court], do hereby summons you in terms of section eighty-four of ' The Defence Act, 1886,' to attend at at the hour of o'clock , to examine into the truth of certain charges to be preferred against of the "(Signed) 85. Penalty on officer refusing to attend Court of Inquiry. —lf any officer of the Forces, summoned as aforesaid, shall refuse or neglect to attend at such time and place as may be named in such summons for the meeting of the Court he shall render himself liable to have his commission cancelled ; subject, however, as follows : — (1.) Every member of any Court appointed under this Act to inquire into the conduct of an officer of the Forces shall be of equal or superior rank to the officer whose coiiduct is so to be inquired into, and one member at least shall be of superior rank. (2.) Every summons shall be delivered personally to the officer summoned at least twentyfour hours before the time appointed for the meeting of the Court. (3.) No officer may be compelled to attend as a member of any Court when the place of meeting is distant more than twenty miles from his usual place of residence. 86. Powers of Courts of Inquiry. —All Courts of officers as hereinbefore constituted shall have power and authority and are hereby required to administer an oath to every witness or other person who shall be examined before such Court in any matter relating to any proceeding before the same. (1.) Every witness who may be required to give or produce evidence before such Court shall be summoned by the convener thereof, and all witnesses or other persons so duly summoned who shall not attend such Court, or attending, shall refuse to be sworn or affirmed, or shall not produce the documents being under their power and control, required to be produced by them, or, being sworn or affirmed, shall refuse to give evidence or to answer all such questions as the Court may legally demand of them, shall be liable to the same pains and penalties as if such witness or other person had, after being duly summoned or subpoenaed, neglected to attend on a trial in any proceeding before a Resident Magistrate or two or more Justices of the Peace. (2.) Any person who shall give false evidence or take a false oath or affirmation and be thereof duly convicted shall be deemed guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, and shall be liable to such pains and penalties as persons convicted of wilful and corrupt perjury are or may be subject or liable to. 87. Charges against commissioned officer, how dealt with. —ln cases where charges or complaints are preferred against any commissioned officer of the Forces, such commissioned officer may be placed under arrest by the senior officer present, and such charges or complaints shall, with all convenient speed, be heard before a Court of officers convened and constituted as hereinbefore provided; but the duties of such Court shall be confined to taking evidence upon oath and reporting upon such evidence. Such report and evidence shall forthwith be forwarded by the President of the Court to the Commanding Officer, who shall submit the same for transmission to the Defence Minister for the decision of the Governor. 88. Bemuneration of officers composing Court.— All officers comprising a Court as hereinbefore constituted shall, if they are not at the time being in receipt of consecutive pay from Her Majesty's Government in the colony, be paid out of any moneys appropriated by the General Assembly for the general benefit of the Defence Force a remuneration of one guinea for each day or part of day during which they shall respectively sit as members of such Court; and all witnesses duly summoned by the convener of a Court of Inquiry shall be entitled to the same fees and privileges as if such witnesses had been duly summoned or subpoenaed to attend on a trial in any proceeding before the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Neio clauses. The convening officer may summons such witnesses as may be necessary for the due investigation of the complaint or charge, opportunity being given to the officer, non-commissioned officer, or man against whom the charge is preferred to require the summoning of any reasonable number of witnesses in his defence. Officers making a preliminary inquiry as regards any charge or complaint preferred against an officer, non-commissioned officer, or man of the Defence Forces cannot sit as either President or member of a Court of Inquiry into such charge or complaint. B. BEIGADES OB BATTALIONS. The Governor may form brigades or battalions of mounted corps or infantry in the various districts. Officers and Volunteers will be appointed and enrolled for particular corps and companies. All promotions will go in the various corps or companies of the brigades or battalions. 18S. The staff officers of any such battalion will be as under : — 1 Lieut.-colonel, who will be at battalion head-quarters, 1 major, 1 captain, as adjutant, 1 pay- and quarter-master, 2 medical officers, and 1 honorary chaplain. The staff officers of the Naval Brigade will be, — 1 Captain, with relative rank of lieut.-colonel, 1 commander, with relative rank of major, 1 gunnery lieutenant, 1 pay- and quarter-master, 2 medical officers, and 1 honorary chaplain.

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C. KESEBVE COBPS. A reserve corps may be formed at the head-quarters of a district. It will be composed of officers who have served for over seven years, and non-commissioned officers and men who have served as efficient Volunteers for at least four years. Non-commissioned officers and men joining the Eeserve corps will be allowed to take their uniforms. The arms of the Eeserve corps will be kept in store, from which the rifles may be drawn for shooting purposes, but must be returned clean and in good order. Officers passing to the Eeserve will retain their rank and wear their uniforms, and will be liable to be called on for service, in case of emergency, for seven years from joining the Eeserve. Their names will be retained for that period on the Eeserve list. At the conclusion of their Eeserve service, officers will cease to be in the service, but will be permitted to retain their rank and wear their uniform. Non-commissioned officers and men will be permitted to remain five years in the Eeserve. The Eeserve corps will be under the immediate control of the District Commanding Officer. Those men who put in a quarterly drill will receive twenty rounds of ammunition per drill. D. ESTABLISHMENT. The establishment of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of all corps will be according to the following table, viz.: —

No claim for capitation will be admitted, except in the case of trained bandsmen, for any member in excess of the number quoted above. The maximum strength of all branches of the service at the four centres will be as follows, viz.:—

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Sill Q u £3 3 c <D » f> io CO m 3 | I E 0Q i e o o Jo •a % O a> ID 13 I ITAL. 00 a •3 CD hi . S| is *$ I p a C3 a® II aw S a o c3 O» O g Strength. -2 1 <D 3 ti I I DO o ■ jo 2 go s s & S S to a '3 a o 'avalry and Mtd. Infantry — Maximum Minimum Taval Artillery — Maximum Minimum rtillery — Maximum Minimum Ingineers — Maximum Minimum lifles —■ Maximum Minimum 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 49 86 44 3 3 3 3 3 3 60 40 100 60 60 40 1 2 4 4 1 51 3 3 60 40 1 2 1 4 4 1 50 3 3 60 40

Moi JNTED IBPS. Alt 1 fAVAIi 'ILLBEY OKPS. Field Aktilleby Ooeps. Engineer Cobps. Ripl: COKPS. B. tEISON iMES. To' ?AIi ALL IBMS. District. I Zi 5 CD I tn 8 g 6 CD 1 02 u a -A 4 I 02 CD ,3 a 3 I Tfi is 1 I © to I 5 GO a s © to a ■43 .uckland Wellington ihristchurch (including Lyttelton) )unedin (including Port Chalmers) 1 1 1 63 63 63 3 3 3 312 312 312 1 1 1 63 63 63 1 1 1 63 63 63 4 4 4 252 252 252 1 1 1 26 26 26 11 11 11 779 779 779 1 63 3 312 1 63 1 63 4 252 1 26 11 779 Total 252 12 1,248 252 252 1G 1,008 104 u 3,116

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E. CAPITATION AND PAY. 119. A capitation allowance at the rate appropriated annually by Parliament will be granted for all trained members of Volunteer corps (who are entitled to draw the same) who have attended the drills and musketry course as under. The number of Government parades in any one year shall not exceed thirty (including the Queen's Birthday, but exclusive of those which may be held at the Easter encampment), of which the undermentioned must be attended to qualify for capitation : — That, to enable the members of a corps or company to obtain capitation, three-fourths of the minimum strength must qualify, as laid down in the Eegulations hereunder. NAVAL ABTILLEEY. The drills of these corps at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Port Chalmers, will be principally confined to heavy gun, submarine-mining, and boat drills; and to qualify for capitation they should go into camp for a fortnight each year, that every man must be present in camp at least seven out of the fourteen days and must attend at least eighteen parades during the year (irrespective of camps), three being afternoon parades, and that two-thirds of the strength must be present on at least four parades during the year. Naval artillery corps not above mentioned will be under the same regulations as infantry as regards capitation. CAVALBY AND MOUNTED BIFLES. That these corps should train either for one week at a time, or else on twelve whole afternoons during the year; that if the corps train in camp for a week each man must be present during the training, and must put in at least six other mounted parades during the year, irrespective of camps; that, if the training of the corps is by twelve whole afternoon parades during the year, each man to earn capitation must be present at each of such parades, and must in future put in at least six other mounted parades irrespective of the Easter encampment; that two-thirds of the strength of each corps must be present on at least four parades during the year. GAEEISON ABTILLEBY BATTEEIES. Same as naval artillery corps at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Port Chalmers. FIELD AETILLEEY, ENGINEEES, AND INFANTBY. That each man must put in eighteen parades, three of these being whole afternoon parades, during the year exclusive of Easter encampment; that two-thirds of the strength must be present on at least four parades during the year. F. BADGES. Badges will be worn by naval artillery and garrison artillery. Men who have passed the examination prescribed in paragraphs 222, 223 (present regulations). Four badges will be issued to each battery of field artillery for competition, and will be allotted to the best qualified first-class gunners who have qualified for capitation. Four badges will be issued to each engineer corps, and will be allotted to the four best qualified men who have qualified for capitation. Four badges will be issued to each corps or company of mounted rifles, and of rifles, to be allotted to men who are most proficient in signalling, and. have qualified for capitation, provided that they are passed as proficient in signalling. These badges will carry a personal payment of £1. Any man who can produce three consecutive badges will be awarded a distinguishing badge and allowed a further sum of £1. G. CAMPS OF INSTEUCTION. Naval Artillery Volunteer corps at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Port Chalmers will go into camp for instruction for a fortnight each year, receiving an allowance of Is. 6d. per diem per man in camp. Other corps, except mounted rifles and cavalry, will be allowed to go into camp of instruction for six days, exclusive of Sundays, receiving Is. 6d. per diem per man in camp. Mounted corps (rifles and cavalry) will, if they do their annual training in camp, go into camp for six days, exclusive of Sundays, receiving Is. 6d. per man per diem in camp. H. BANDS AND BANDSMEN. A garrison band will be allowed for each centre, to be of the strength of one bandmaster and twenty-five men. An annual allowance of £25 will be made. All bandsmen on parade must be enrolled Volunteers and in uniform. Corps outside the centres will be allowed five men per corps in excess of the strength laid down in paragraph 8, present regulations. These men will be supernumerary and not allowed to count in any way towards the capitation of their corps, and will only receive capitation provided the corps complies with the requirements in earning capitation. Bandsmen will be entitled to capitation subject to the above rule, provided they are efficient musicians, have attended the required parades, have served six months, and are properly clothed in •uniform.

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Garrison bands will be under the immediate orders and direct control of the District Commanding Officer, and the financial and general affairs thereof shall be managed by a committee, The officer commanding the district shall be president, and all money received from Government. and property of any kind contributed or given for the use of the band, shall be vested in the officer commanding the district, and shall be under the control of the committee. All bandsmen may be required to undergo an annual course of instruction in ambulance drill. K. Recommendations of Conference as regards uniform : — 1. That only one style of dress should be recognised. 2. That the uniform of the Naval Artillery shall be the same as at present, except that the fulldress uniform be done away with. 3. That the uniform for mounted corps and mounted officers of other branches shall be : blue helmet, field cap, jacket, Norfolk pattern, blue with red facings; dark-brown cord breeches, scarlet welt, leggings, and laced ankle-boots, with brown-leather belts. 4. That the uniform of other corps shall be : blue helmet, field cap, jacket, Norfolk pattern, blue with red facings ; Zouave trousers, blue with scarlet stripe or welt; brown gaiters, laced ankleboots, and brown-leather belts. 5. That distinctive badges of the various branches of the service be worn by the corps belonging to such branches. 6. That difference of rank shall be indicated by the badges of rank. Officers having in addition a mohair knot on each sleeve. 7. That it be permissive for officers to wear a mess uniform of simple pattern.

Authority : Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB94.