JOINT DEFENCE (SECRET) COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1900 Session I, I-12

1.—12

1900. NEW ZEALAND.

JOINT DEFENCE (SECRET) COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Brought up 21st September, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Thubsday, the 26th Day of July, 1900. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 162 be suspended, and that a Secret Committee be appointed, consisting of fourteen members, to whom shall be referred all matters affecting defence, with power to confer and sit together with any similar Committee that may be appointed by the House of Representatives, and to agree to a joint or separate report; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records; five to form a quorum :to consist of the Hon. Colonel Baillie, the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Bonar, the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Feldwick, the Hon. Surgeon-General Grace, C.M.G., the Hon. Major Harris, the Hon. Honorary Lieutenant Jennings, the Hon. CaptainCommandant Johnston, the Hon. Mr. T. Kelly, the Hon. Captain Kenny, the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Pitt, the Hon. Mr. A. L. Smith, the Hon. Mr. L. Walker, the Hon. Major-General Sir G. S. Whitmore, K.C.M.G., and the Mover." —(Hon. Mr. W. 0. Walker.)

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 24th Day op July, 1900. Ordered, " That a Secret Committee be appointed, consisting of fifteen members, to whom shall be referred all matters affecting defence, with power to confer and sit together with any similar Committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Counoil, and to agree to a joint or separate report; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records; five to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of Lieutenant-Commanding J. Allen, Captain Carncross, Mr. Hardy, Mr. McNab, Captain Napier, Captain Palmer, Lieutenant Rhodes, Captain Russell, the Hon. Major Steward, Captain Symes, Captain Willis, Captain Hon. J. G. Ward, Mr. Lethbridge, Captain Stevens, and the Mover."—(Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.)

Friday, the 20th Day op July, 1900. Ordered, " That Paper No.IOIh, Statement by the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier and Minister of Defence, respecting Harbour Defences, Colonial Defence Forces, Imperial Reserve, Cadet Corps, Rifle Clubs, and other Matters oonneoted with the Defenoes of the Colony, be referred to the Defence Committee."—(Right Hon. R. J, Seddon.)

Tuesday, the 14th Day op August, 1900. Ordered, " That Paper No. 138h, Report on the Defence Forces of New Zealand, by Colonel A. P. Penton, R.A., Commander of the Forces, and Paper No. 139h, Copy Correspondence between the Right Hon. the Premier, His Excellenoy the Governor, and His Excellency the Admiral, in reference to the Defence Scheme propounded by the Right Hon. the Premier, be referred to the Defence Committee."—(Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.)

Tuesday, the 28th Day op August, 1900. Ordered, " That Paper No. 161h, Letter from Major-General Hutton, commanding Ist Mounted Rifle Brigade, South Afrioa, with reference to the New Zealand contingents, be referred to the Defence Committee."— (Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.)

INTEEIM KEPOBT. The Joint Defence (Secret) Committee have the honour to report as follows: — " That the Government be recommended to accept the services of all the Volunteer corps offering; which, with those now accepted, will bring up the Volunteer Force of the colony approximately to eighteen thousand (18,000)." Albert Pitt, Lieut.-Colonel. 16th August, 1900, Chairman.

1.--12

EEPOET.

The Joint Defence (Secret) Committee of both Houses of Parliament, to whom was referred all matters affecting defence, with power to call for persons, papers, and records, and to whom was referred the statement made in the House of Eepresentatives on the 20th July, 1900, by the Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon, Premier and Minister of Defence, respecting harbour defences, colonial Defence Forces, Imperial Eeserve, cadet corps, rifle clubs, and other matters connected with the defences of the colony, have the honour to report that they have carefully considered the said statement, and have taken the. evidence of the following witnesses thereon : — His Excellency the Admiral commanding the Australian Naval Station (by written questions submitted and answered in writing). The Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon, Premier and Defence Minister. Colonel A. P. Penton, Commander of the Forces. Major Sir Arthur Douglas, Bart., Under-Secretary for Defence. Mr. A. C. Whitney, manager at Auckland and attorney for the Colonial Ammunition Company (Limited). Captain John Falconer, in charge of No. 2 Service Company at Wellington. Mr. J. H. Witheford, M.H.E., Chairman, Auckland Harbour Board. Surgeon-General the Hon. M. S. Grace, C.M.G. Captain W. J. Napier, M.H.E., Captain, Devonport Coast Guard Artillery Volunteers. Lieut.-Colonel White, commanding No. 1 Battalion, Auckland Infantry. Captain Coyle, No. 2 Service Company, Auckland. The Committee have had before them a number of important documents and records relative to Colonial Defence, and after consideration of the evidence before them have the honour to report as follows: — Foetifications and Mine-fields. 1. Your Committee are of opinion that it is necessary that the fortifications and harbour defences of the colony should be perfected, extended, and strengthened. 2. Your Committee, having regard to the fact of Auckland possessing the Calliope Dock, and having regard also to the fact of arrangements existing between the Admiralty authorities and the Auckland Harbour Board in reference to that dock for the procurement and maintenance of the necessary machinery and equipment of the dock, consider that it is of the first importance that the defences of the Port of Auckland, both as regards fortifications, submarine mines, and the necessary Permanent and Volunteer Forces, should be completed without delay. 3. Your Committee are of opinion that the necessary quick-firing guns of the latest pattern and requisite calibre should be obtained for use at Auckland. 4. Your Committee consider that a sufficient stock of Westport coal should be always kept at Auckland for the use of Her Majesty's warships, the supply of coal to be maintained by being replenished from time to time, proper financial arrangements being made between the Imperial and New Zealand Governments in reference to such stock of coal. 5. Your Committee are of opinion that additional fortifications, guns of more modern types, and quick-firing guns are required for the complete fortification of Wellington. The mine-fields at Wellington require strengthening, and additional men to man and support the forts are needed. 6. Your Committee are further of opinion that the fortifications for the defence of Lyttelton require to be altered as regards the position of the guns (the guns at Eipa Island should be removed to the Heads), and by the introduction of the necessary quick-firing guns and completion of the mine-fields. Also that additional men are required to man and support the harbour defences. 7. Your Committee consider that the defences of Port Chalmers should be strengthened by the completion of the mine-field and necessary adjuncts, and by the addition of suitable guns. 8. Your Committee, having regard to the great importance of the Westport coalfields, especially in time of war, and having regard also to the opinions with which they have been favoured by His Excellency the Admiral commanding the Australian Naval Station in respect of the necessity for fortifying Westport, are of opinion that the fortifications recommended by His Excellency should be undertaken and completed without delay. 9. Your Committee are of opinion that the necessary steam-launches (or miners) and pinnaces in connection with the several fortified ports in the colony should be procured, and be of an up-to-date class. Geneeal Eecommendations. 10. Your Committee further make the following recommendations: — (a.) That an ample supply of ammunition for the guns in the forts, and the requisite stores for the mine-fields and spare parts of the mechanism of the guns, be obtained and always maintained. (b.) That the Volunteer Force of the colony be increased up to a minimum strength of all arms and ranks of 18,C00, as mentioned in the interim report of your Committee, (c.) That the field artillery of the colony be strengthened by obtaining three batteries (of newest type of guns) in addition to the field guns at present in the colony. (d.) That eight Maxim guns of the latest approved pattern, together with the necessary ammunition, be obtained,

2

1.—12

(c.) That 30,000 stand of arms, rifles and carbines, of approved pattern, with necessary accoutrements, be obtained for the defence of the colony. (/.) That the supply of small-arms ammunition be augmented as soon as possible to the extent that would be necessary in time of war, and that the supply in each Volunteer District in the colony be constantly maintained by fresh supplies from time to time at that standard. (g.) That the present stock of bell tents, marquees, and camp equipment be increased so as to meet the requirements of the increased forces of the colony. (h.) That the whole of the Volunteer Force of the colony should be properly equipped, such equipment to include overcoat and waterproof sheet (to be the property of the corps). (i). That the term of enrolment of Volunteers for service should in future be three years. (j.) That Schools of Instruction be provided for Volunteer officers at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, at least; and that it be obligatory on officers and non-com-missioned officers to attend at one of such schools for instruction for such period and to pass such examination as shall be prescribed by regulations. (k.) That during camps of instruction Volunteers of all branches shall remain in camp during a period of seven whole days consecutively in each year, and shall be paid by the Government such wages in respect of such attendance as shall be prescribed by regulation. (I.) That it is expedient and necessary that suitable rifle-ranges be obtained in each Volunteer District where recommended by the Commander of the Forces. That the necessary legislation be passed to enable the Government to take the lands necessary for such rifle-ranges, such lands to be taken as provided by the Public Works Acts, the value of the lands so taken or injuriously affected, and the compensation in respect of other lands not taken but injuriously affected, to be assessed on the basis of the land-tax value, plus 10 per cent. That, except as above mentioned, upon any land being legally proclaimed a rifle-range, no property-owner or occupier shall thereafter have a right to any compensation in respect of such land being used as a rifle-range, nor thereafter be legally able to object to any such land being used as a rifle-range. And that the whole cost of maintaining rifle-ranges and erecting targets thereon shall be borne by the Government. (m.) That the existing payments for daylight parades of Volunteers be continued—a condition for payment being that one-half of the nominal strength of a company shall be present on parade. (n.) That any Volunteer who is absent from three Government parades consecutively without a certificate from the Volunteer medical officer of his corps, or leave in writing from the officer commanding his company, shall cease to be a member of the company, and shall not be eligible for enrolment in any other Volunteer company for a period of two years. (o.) That for garrison artillery and Volunteer submarine miners the annual capitation be £3 10s. instead of £2 10s. as at present. (p.) That the uniform and caps of the submarine branch of the service be restored to the pattern previously in use. (q.) That the medical branch of the Defence Forces requires to be reorganized, and your Committee recommend that the general medical list be purged by striking the names therefrom and cancelling the commissions of those medical officers who are unable to perform, or who have not hitherto performed, their Volunteer medical duties. That the necessary medical and surgical appliances requisite for the Defence Forces be procured and maintained. That proper arrangements should be made insuring that the necessary field and base hospitals be available in the event of the outbreak of hostilities, and that the requisite arrangements should be made with the principal hospital at each provincial centre for the reception of patients from the field hospitals in time of war. That the medical officer of each company should give lectures and instruction to a number of the members of his corps upon first aid to the injured. That Volunteer medical officers be remunerated for their time in attending camps of exercise according to a scale to be fixed by regulations. (r.) That the number and strength of bearer corps be increased, and that they be supplied with the necessary equipment, and that the necessary arrangements be made for the transport of wounded in case of hostilities. (s.) That proper arrangements should be made insuring that sufficient transport should be available to meet the case of a sudden outbreak of hostilities. Headquaetees Staff. 11. Your Committee are of opinion that the headquarters staff in each Volunteer district in the colony requires organizing, so as to put the same upon a more serviceable footing than at present exists. Impeeial Eeseeve. 12. With respect to the formation of an Imperial Eeserve, your Committee recommend that the following provisions shall apply: It shall be open to all officers and men belonging to the ordinary Volunteer corps to become efficient in both services and to enlist for three years in the Eeserve. The officers and men so enlisting shall receive a fixed sum of £5 per annum as a personal payment on being certified as efficient, and shall be required to go into camp at stated periods for, say, two weeks in each year, the drills in camp as a Volunteer to count as part of the

3

1.—12

4

said two weeks. When in camp officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates shall be paid such amounts as are prescribed by regulations. The Eeserve shall be formed only upon condition that the Imperial Government shall provide the capital required to purchase the requisite field batteries, rifles, and equipment of the force, the colony paying a sum equal to one-half the interest upon such capital. The Imperial Government to provide all necessary horses for the Eeserve when on service beyond the colony, but when in the colony the officers and men to provide their own horses. The payment of capitation and the payment of the Eeserve when in camp in the colony to be adjusted between the Imperial authorities and the Colonial Government on a population or other equitable basis. When on service outside the colony, within limits to be prescribed by Act of Parliament, the Imperial Government to pay the whole cost connected therewith. The Eeserve Force to be liable for service as agreed upon between the Imperial and Colonial Governments; such agreement to be subject to confirmation and ratification by the New Zealand Parliament. The number of such Eeserve Force shall not exceed, at the commencement, two thousand; one-half at least to be field artillery and the other half to be mounted rifles. The pay of the officers and men when on service outside the colony shall not be less than that which is being paid to the Fifth Contingent at present serving in South Africa. Eifle Clubs. 13. Your Committee are of opinion that the formation of rifle clubs should be encouraged as a part of the defence system of the colony, and upon conditions somewhat as follows :— A club should consist of not less than twenty or more than sixty members; and, in localities where Volunteer corps have been formed, only ex-Volunteers who have had not less than three years' efficient service and are over thirty years of age should be enrolled. In localities where there are no Volunteer corps, rifle clubs may enrol members who have not had Volunteer service; but no rifle club should be established within five miles of the headquarters of a Volunteer corps. Members of rifle clubs should, where practicable, attend a prescribed number of drills and parades in the course of the year, the instruction being in respect to handling arms and firingexercise. The Government to supply rifles and ammunition to enrolled members of rifle clubs at cost price. After one year's enrolment members of rifle clubs shall be tested at target-practice, and on being able to make the minimum number of marks at the prescribed ranges, and having attended the prescribed number of drills and parades, they shall be entitled to receive a certificate as being efficient. For the first year every enrolled member of a rifle club shall receive a free grant of fifty rounds of ammunition; and thereafter to every efficient member of a rifle club there shall be allowed a free grant of one hundred rounds of ammunition, to be used at matches or at practice. Members of rifle clubs also to have concession in the shape of free railway-passes when attending rifle association competitions. Eifle clubs shall form part of the battalion of the Volunteer District in which they are located, and be subject to the orders of the officer commanding such district, and shall be liable for active service on the declaration of war. Cadet Coeps. 14. Your Committee are of opinion that cadet corps in connection with the various schools in the colony should be established and encouraged. They should be under the control of the Education Boards and the Education Department. The Defence Department to supply a limited number of carbines and a certain quantity of ammunition for the use of the elder boys in school corps. In addition to school cadet corps, your Committee recommend the formation of cadet corps to consist of youths who have left school, but who are not old enough to join a Volunteer corps. These corps should be under the Defence Department, and subject to regulations to be prescribed. Defence Stoees. 15. In the opinion of your Committee, matters of finance, the ordering and receipt of military stores, should belong to the department of the Under-Secretary for Defence; on arrrival in the central store they should be issued by that department to the Commander of the Forces, who should be responsible for seeing that the minimum war standard of such stores is maintained; in addition to the central receiving-store in Wellington, there should be stores at the four chief Volunteer centres, so that the stores from the receiving-store could be sent to each centre by the Commander of the Forces. The Commander of the Forces should report to the Minister quarterly as to the stores in hand and the amounts required to bring them up to the minimum war standard. Finance. 16. Your Committee recommend that the Imperial authorities be applied to by the Government of the colony to advance the capital necessary to enable the colony to carry out such of the above recommendations as may be adopted by Parliament, and upon the terms set forth in the statement made in the House of Eepresentatives on the 20th July, 1900, by the Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon, Premier and Minister of Defence, referred to in the early portion of this report.

5

1.—12

Amendment of Defence Act. 17. Your Committee recommend that an amending Defence Act should be introduced and passed into law during the present session, giving legal effect to such of the recommendations of your Committee as can properly be provided for therein, and that the Volunteer Eegulations be also amended accordingly as may be necessary. Naval Eeseeve. 18. With regard to the subject of the establishment in this colony of a branch of an Imperial or colonial Naval Eeserve, your Committee consider the matter to be one of such importance that they recommend negotiations being entered into by the Government of New Zealand with the Commonwealth of Australia and the Imperial Government, with a view of ascertaining whether some satisfactory arrangements can be made upon the subject. CoNVEESION OF StEAMEES. 19. Your Committee further recommend that the attention of the Imperial authorities be drawn to the matter of the conversion of merchant steamers trading to this colony into armed cruisers, and the proper equipment of such steamers as cruisers. AUSTEALIAN SQUADBON. 20. Your Committee, having regard to the altered international political conditions, especially in China and the Pacific, recommend that representations should be made by the Government of this colony to the Commonwealth of Australia and to the Imperial Government as to the necessity of strengthening the Australian Squadron by raising the class and increasing the number of the cruisers composing that squadron ; the increased cost to be paid by the Commonwealth of Australia and by New Zealand on the basis of the present agreement. Conclusion. This report of your Committee is submitted upon the assumption that arrangements will be made for the capital necessary for carrying out the recommendations of your Committee being advanced by the Imperial Government; to the colony at a rate of interest satisfactory to the Parliament of New Zealand, and that a sinking fund will be provided for the ultimate extinction of the loan. If such arrangements cannot be made, it is obvious that parts only of such scheme could be carried out by the colony, and then only by spreading the necessary capital expenditure over a number of years. If the colony has to undertake the work without assistance from the Imperial Government, your Committee submit for consideration the alternative of completing the fortifications of, say, only two ports in the colony; more especially as having regard to the fact that, owing to the rapid changes and improvements in artillery armaments, those now recommended to be purchased for the completion of the forts may in a few years be quite obsolete, and consequently a very heavy expenditure upon guns in the forts may become a dead loss to the colony. The scheme submitted to Parliament by the Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon, Premier and Defence Minister, on the 20th July, 1900, and which was referred to your Committee, has been taken by them as the basis of their report. Your Committee have dealt with the many important matters concerning the defences of the colony mentioned in that scheme, and with others which have been suggested during the course of the investigations of your Committee. The capital cost of carrying out the improvement of the defences recommended in your Committee's report would be, approximately, £373,428, as shown in the estimate in Schedule A attached to this report. The annual extra cost to the colony in respect of such improved defence, including interest and sinking fund, would be £59,303. Albeet Pitt, Lieut.-Colonel, 21st September, 1900. Chairman Joint Defence (Secret) Committee.

ADDENDUM. Resolved, on the motion of the Eight Hon. the Premier, —" That this Committee desire place on record their appreciation of the efficient services rendered by the Hon. the Chairman the conduct of the Committee, and in connection with the preparation of this report."

1.—12

SCHEDULE A. Estimate of Appboximate Cost of modifying the present Armaments of the Forts at the Four Centres, completing the Mine-fields at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, including erection of new Fort at Dorset Point, Wellington; fortifying Westport, and supplying extra Ammunition for Forts, so as to bring them up to a War Strength, but with one Submarine-mining Boat (for Wellington) only : — Westpobt. £ £ Four 6in. B.L. guns on H.P. mountings .. ... Available. Two 6-pr. Q.F. guns ... ... ... ... 1,000 Two Maxims on parapet mountings ... ... 900 Works for armament ... ... ... 15,032 Ammunition for 6-prs. ... ... ... 880 17,812 Auckland. Three 6in. Q.F. guns and mountings ... ... 10,500 400 rounds ammunition per gun ... ... 9,240 Two 12-pr. Q.F. guns, Fort Bastion ... ... 1,540 Two 12-pr. Q.F. guns, Fort Eesolution ... ... 1,540 Ammunition for 12-prs. ... ... ... ... 1,632 Alteration of works ... ... ... ... 2,000 Electric light, Bastion ... ... ..\ 2,500 Mine-field (complete block) ... ... ... 2,300 31,252 Wellington. One Bin. B.L. gun on H.P. mounting ... ... Available. Two 6 in. Q.F. guns ... ... ... ... 7,000 Ammunition ... ... ... ... ... 6,160 Two 12-pr. Q.F. guns ... ... ... 1,540 Ammunition ... ... ... ... ... 816 Works ... ... ... ... ... 9,232 Electric searchlight ... ... ... ... 2,500 ■ 27,248 Lyttelton. Two 6in. Q.F. Guns ... ... ... ... 7,000 Ammunition for ditto ... ... ... ... 6,160 Barbette mountings for two Bin. B.L. Guns... ... 3,500 Works ... ... ... ... ... 16,228 Electric light ... ... ... ... ... 2,500 Mine-field 2,500 37,888 Dunedin. Two 12-pr. Q.F. guns ... ... ... ... 1,540 Ammunition for ditto ... ... ... ... 816 Works, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 5,356 Total ... ... ... ... 119,556 For workshops, water-supply, &c. ... ... 5,000 Submarine- mining boat ... ... ... 7,000 Total ... ... ::. 131,556 Three batteries of field artillery ... ... ... 30,000 Ammunition for same ... ... ... ... 10,000 Harness ... ... ... ... ... 972 40,972 Eight Maxim guns ... ... ' ... ... 3,200 30,000 rifles and carbines ... ... ... 90,000 Accoutrements for same ... ... ... ... 15,000 — 105,000* Extra ammunition for Maxims and small arms up to war strength ... ... ... ... 40,000 Extra tents, marquees, and camp equipment ... 10,000 Overcoats ... ... ... ... ... 15,000 Waterproof sheets ... ... ... ... 200 15,200 Eifle-ranges, acquiring land,conducting and maintaining ranges, butts, &c, and targets... ... ... 10,000 Additional medical equipment ... ... ... 1,000 Cadets... ... ... ... ... .... 8,000 Extra submarine-mining boat ... ... ... 7,000 Pinnaces ... ... ... ... ... 1,500 Grand total ... ... ... £373,428

* N.B.—Of the £105,000 for rifles, carbines, and accoutrements, say, £42,000 would be recouped upon sale of, say, 12,000 stand of arms and accoutrements to members of rifle clubs. Albebt Pitt, Lieut.-Colonel, Chairman.

6

1.—12

SCHEDULE B. Extba Annual Cost in respect of Proposed Additional Defence Expenditure beyond Present Ordinary Vote. £ Extra capitation ... ... ... ... ... ... 25,600 Imperial Eeserve : personal payment, 2,000 men at £5 each (colony's share) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5,000 Extra ammunition for field batteries ... ... ... ... 750 Extra small-arms ammunition, including that for rifle clubs ... 7,200 Eifle-ranges ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 Headquarters staff ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,500 District headquarters staff, at four centres ... ... ... 1,050 One week's training of Volunteers and Eeserve ... ... ... 3,000 Schools of Instruction... ... ... ... ... ... 1,000 Annual interest upon £373,428, amount of capital proposed to be advanced by Imperial Government to the colony, say, at 3 per cent. per annum, including sinking fund ..: ... .. ... 11,203 £59,303 Albert Pitt, Lieut.-Colonel, Chairman Approximate cost 0/ Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), £ i 2s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—1900. Price 6d.]

7