DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING NEW ZEALAND MILITARY FORCES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1935 Session I, H-19

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1935. NE W ZE A L AND.

DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING NEW ZEALAND MILITARY FORCES.

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

REPORT.

The Hon. the Minister of Defence. Wellington, 31st July, 1935. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the New Zealand Military Forces for the period Ist June, 1934, to 31st May, 1935. 1. NEW ZEALAND PERMANENT FORCES. (a) Commands and Staff. Major-General Sir William L. H. Sinclair-Burgess, K.8.E., C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., was granted an extension of his appointment of General Officer Commanding for a period of two years from, the Ist April, 1935. Colonel F. Symon, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., R.N.Z.A., A.D.C. to the King, relinquished the appointment of Officer Commanding Central Command on the 6th May, 1934, and retains (for one year) the appointment of Director of Artillery at G.H.Q. Lieut.-Colonel I. T. Standisli, C.M.G., D.5.0., R.N.Z.A., relinquished the appointment of Adjutant and Quartermaster-General on the 31st July, 1934, and was appointed Adjutant-General and Assistant Director of Artillery on the Ist August, 1934. On the 6th May, 1935, he relinquished the appointment of Adjutant-General and was appointed Officer Commanding the Central Command on the 7th May, 1935. Lieut.-Colonel E. Puttick, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., relinquished the appointment of General Staff Officer, Southern Command, Christchurch, on the 31st July, 1934, and was appointed QuartermasterGeneral on the Ist August, 1934. Major P. H. Bell, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., relinquished the appointments of Staff Officer in Charge No. 1 Regimental District, Auckland, and Brigade Major, Ist Infantry Brigade, on 31st July, 1934, and was appointed G. 5.0., Southern Command. Major 0. H. Mead, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., relinquished the appointment of S.O.R.D. 11, Dunedin, and Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Brigade, on 6th May, 1935, and was appointed Adjutant-General at G.H.Q. ■ Major W. I. K. Jennings, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., relinquished the appointment of S.O.R.D. 10 and Brigade Major, 3rd M.R. Brigade, and on the 7th May, 1935, was appointed Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, Southern Command. Major W. G. Stevens, R.N.Z.A. (in addition to his other appointments), was appointed General Staff Officer (Intelligence) at General Headquarters on the 25th July, 1934. Major E. T. Rowllings, N.Z.S.C., was appointed Brigade Major, 2nd Mounted Rifles Brigade, on the sth November, 1934, in addition to his other appointments. I—H. 19.

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Major L. Potter, N.Z.S.C., relinquished the appointments of S.O.R.D. 6, Palmerston North, and Brigade Major, 2nd Mounted Rifles Brigade, on the 4th November, 1934, and was appointed S.O.R.D. 4, Hamilton, and Brigade Major, Ist Mounted Rifles BrigadeMajor H. D. McHugh, M.C., N.Z.S.C., relinquished the appointment of Staff Officer in Charge No. 12 Regimental District, Invercargill, on the 31st July, 1934, and was appointed Staff Officer in Charge No. 1 Regimental District and Brigade Major, Ist Infantry Brigade, Auckland. Major C. T. Gillespie, M.C., R.N.Z.A., relinquished the appointment of Brigade Major, Ist Mounted Rifles Brigade, on the 4th November, 1934. Major K. L. Stewart, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., having returned to the Dominion on the 19th December, 1934, after completing a tour of duty with the Ceylon Defence Force was appointed S.O.R.D. 11, Dunedin, and Brigade Major, 3rd Mounted Rifles Brigade, on 7th May, 1935. Captain M. A. Stedman, M.C., N.Z.S.C., relinquished the appointment of Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, Southern Command, on 6th May, 1935, and was appointed S.O.R.D. 10, Christchurch, and Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Brigade. Captain A. J. Edney, Royal Engineers, arrived in New Zealand on the 2nd January, 1935, on loan from the British Army, and has been attached to the General Staff at General Headquarters for engineering duties. Captain Edney has been granted the local rank of Major for the period of his tour of duty in New Zealand. The following Warrant Officers were appointed to Commissions in the N.Z.S.C. as from the Ist December, 1934 : — Lieutenant J. H. Sharp. Lieutenant K. N. Todd. Lieutenant W. H. Alexander. Lieutenant J. Vincent, D.C.M., M.M. Lieutenant G. H. Macan. Lieutenant A. R. Cockerell, D.S.O. Lieutenant F. M. Jenkins, D.C.M. Flying Officer C. C. C. Manson, R.N.Z.A.F., was appointed Equipment Officer, Wigram Aerodrome, on the 14th March, 1935. Notwithstanding the new commissions granted, the shortage of officers is still acute, and further measures are necessary to remedy this as soon as financial conditions permit. (h) Military Education. Flight Lieutenant A. deT. Nevill, B.Sc., A.M.I.Ae.E., Royal New Zealand Air Force, proceeded to England on the 22nd June, 1934, to attend the Air Staff College, Andover, to act as Liaison Officer at the Air Ministry and to undergo a special course. Captain W. G. Gentry, N.Z.S.C., proceeded to England on the 24th July, 1934, to undergo a series of courses in Military Engineering. Captain D. T. Maxwell, N.Z.S.C., left for England on the 6th December, 1934, to undergo a course at the Staff College, Camberley. New Zealand is still the only Dominion not represented at the Imperial Defence College, but it is hoped that financial provision may be made for this purpose next year. Seven cadets were entered at the Royal Military Australia for commissions on graduation to the New Zealand regular forces. (c) Liaison with Australia. The system of interchange of officers during the camp training period of both the Commonwealth and the Dominion, instituted at the suggestion of the Commonwealth Government in 1934, was again effected during the year under review. Under this arrangement Captain J. E. Barrett, p.s.c., Australian Staff Corps, visited the camps of various units throughout New Zealand from 26th February, 1935, to 13th May, 1935, and Major L. G. Goss, p.s.c., New Zealand Staff Corps, undertook similar duty in Australia from 22nd February, 1935, to 24th Mav, 1935. This principle has been further extended at the invitation of the Commonwealth Government by the appointment of an officer of the New Zealand Staff Corps as an Instructor at the Royal Military College of Australia. (d) Casualties. Four " other ranks " of the Permanent Forces resigned during the year ; eighteen were discharged for other reasons. 2. TERRITORIAL FORCE. (a) Commands and Staff. Colonel J. L. Frazerhurst, v.d., M.A., M.D., F.R.1.P.H., N.Z.M.C., relinquished the appointment of Director of Medical Services on the 30th November, 1934. Colonel F. T. Bowerbank, 0.8. E., E.D., M.D., F.R.C.P., N.Z.M.C., relinquished the appointment of A.D.M.S., Central Command, and was appointed Director of Medical Services on the Ist December, 1934.

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Lieut.-Colonel R. Stout, M.D., N.Z.M.C., was appointed A.D.M.S., Central Command, on the Ist December, 1934. Lieut.-Colonel C. E. Herons, D.5.0., 0.8. E., v.d., M.D., B.D.Sc., N.Z.M.C., relinquished the appointment of A.D.M.S., Southern Command, on the 24th November, 1934. Lieut.-Colonel A. C. McKillop, M.8., N.Z.M.C., was appointed A.D.M.S., Southern Command, on the 25th November, 1934. Colonel E. H. Northcroft, D.5.0., v.d., N.Z. Army Legal Department, relinquished the appointment of Judge-Advocate-General on the 18th June, 1935, and Colonel C. H. Weston, D.5.0., v.d., N.Z. Army Legal Department, was appointed to succeed him, dated 19th June, 1935. As in the past, the normal changes in the command of brigades and units have been made. Once again I wish to place on record my appreciation of the excellent service rendered by all officers who have completed their terms of command. It has been my policy to retain in commands for as long a period as possible officers with active service experience in the Great War, wherever this could be done without detriment to the promotion of junior officers. (b) Strength. The strength of the Territorial Force as on the 31st May, 1935, is shown in Appendix I. The increase on last year's figures is as follows : 54 Officers, 91 Warrant and Non-commissioned Officers, and 584 men —a total increase in all ranks to 729. 3. COAST DEFENCE WORKS AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT, Plans for the modernizing of Coast Defences as approved by Cabinet are now so far advanced that it is hoped to have the major works completed by 1936. The anti-aircraft armament and equipment ordered in 1934 is expected to arrive in the Dominion late in 1935. 4. AIR SERVICES. (a) Royal New Zealand Air Force. The strength of the Royal New Zealand Air Force as at 31st May, 1935, was 10 Officers, 101 other ranks, new enlistments during the period under review being 1 Officer and 57 Airmen. The Air vote was considerably enlarged to provide for the recently approved expansion of the Air Force, a net sum of £197,934 being voted for military aviation. The amount actually expended was £132,230, leaving an unexpended balance of £65,704. The two items mainly responsible for this unexpended balance are buildings, &c., £32,410 and purchase of aircraft, &c., £28,845. This loss to the Air vote is a serious matter, brought about by the fact that building work was not commenced until the latter half of the financial year, and the impossibility of getting deliveries of aircraft at short notice. The two flights of service aircraft which recently arrived from England will be erected under the supervision of two representatives from the aircraft firms supplying the airframes and engines respectively. Co-operation with Naval and Land Forces has been carried out by both stations during the period under review, the total actual flying-time involved in exercises being —with Naval Forces, 57 hours ; with Land Forces, 108 hours ; and a further 140 hours' flying was done in movements to and from camps, &c. (b) New Zealand Aik Force. The strength of the New Zealand Air Force totals 86 Officers and 4 N.Z.M.C. Officers, and 1 N.Z. Artillery Officer attached. During the year, fifteen new appointments were made from amongst clubtrained pilots who had passed the First Appointment to a Commission Examination. The training carried out by squadrons was this year increased, and consisted of a refresher course of six days' continuous training and an annual camp of ten days. In addition, the newly appointed officers also underwent a ten days' elementary course to fit them to receive further training in their respective squadrons in the next year's courses. The attendance and flying-time at the various courses were as follows : —

The work carried out at the advanced courses consisted of musketry course, air gunnery, camera obscura, photography, navigation, wireless, and bombing with B|lb. practice bombs. At the first appointment course instruction was given in Lewis gun, air sighting, theory of bombing and bomb sight, signals, navigation, engines, rigging, photography, reconnaissance report writing, musketry, and drill.

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J Officers attending. Hours flown. Hr. Min. Refresher courses (six days) .. .. • ■ • • 1 55 521 0 Annual camp (ten days) .. . . . • • • 53 865 20 First appointment course (ten days) . . . ■ ■ ■ 15 115 35

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(c) Aircraft and Equipment. The aircraft as shown in my previous report have still been maintained in service, and the two flights of Yickers Vildebeest have been delivered to stations. In addition, an order was placed for four Avro 626 aircraft, fitted with " Cheetah " engines. This type is an advanced training type, and will be allotted to the Flying Training Flight at Wigram Aerodrome. A further flight of Avro 626 is to be ordered next year in accordance with the policy to provide aircraft for the training of N.Z.A.F. personnel. This type has several alternative equipment schemes which enable instruction and practice in the various specialist duties of pilots, navigators, bomb-timers, air gunners, wireless operators, and observers. (d) Royal New Zealand Air Force Aerodromes. Much work has been done on the two Air Force Stations at Auckland and Christchurch, and is still in hand. At R.N.Z.A.F. Base, Auckland, extensive levelling operations are being carried out, and three houses have been erected for married officers ; contracts have also been let for the construction of the following buildings : 1 new hangar, 1 single men's barracks, 10 married airmen's quarters. At Wigram Aerodrome, levelling operations and roading have been carried out in the residential area, and contracts have been let for the construction of two new hangars. Plans have been prepared for a new workshop block and residence for the Officer Commanding to replace old buildings which are to be dismantled. These old buildings were taken over from the Canterbury Aviation Co., and can no longer serve their purpose. (e) Civil Aviation. (i) General. The amount voted for civil aviation for the financial year 1934-35 was £14,850, and the expenditure £11,316. Civil-aviation statistics as they affect the Defence Department, as at 31st May, were as follows : — Pilots' "A " licenses (private) .. .. .. . • 316 Pilots' " B " licenses (commercial) . . . . 56 Aerodromes (licensed) . . .. . . . . 44 Aircraft .. .. .. • • • • 81 Ground engineers .. .. .. . ■ 64 During the year two companies, licensed by the Transport Co-ordination Board, commenced operations —viz., The East Coast Airways, Ltd., and N.Z. Air Travel, Ltd. The former plies between Grisborne and Napier and the latter between Inchbonnie and Okuru, on the west coast of the South Island. The statistics for these companies since the commencement of operations to 31st May are as follows :—

N.Z. East Coast Airways (commenced 15th April, 1935).

During this period the company operated with one D.H. " Dragon."

N.Z. Air Travel, Ltd. (commenced 29th December, 1934).

During this period the company operated with one D.H. " Fox " Moth. An attempt was made to engage a specially qualified official to take charge of the Aeronautical Inspection Branch, but, owing to the heavy demand for inspectors in England, due to increased aircraft production, no suitable application was received, and it has been decided to engage a local graduate, and, after undergoing preliminary instruction at an Air Force Station, to send him to England for specialist training.

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„ - ,, Passengers' Prei M On0 Tri Hours flown. Passengers. L ( ™ e carried. Special Mail. Lb. Lb. Lb. 160 hr. 5 min. .. .. j 518 8,936 4,749 97

Hours flown. Passengers. j Freight carried. Mail carried. j ! Lb. Lb. 90 hr. 30 min. .. .. j 142 1,026 1,553

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(ii) Aero Club Movement. During the year 113 pilots received ab initio instruction and qualified for issue of " A " licenses, and the sum of £3,456 10s. was paid to clubs as subsidy for pilots trained and licenses renewed, leaving an unexpended balance on the subsidy vote of £1,043 10s. The undermentioned six aero clubs each received on loan a new D.H. Moth aircraft fitted with a " Gipsy Major " engine : Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club, Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club, Wellington Aero Club, West Coast United Aero Club, Otago Aero Club, and Southland Aero Club. The statistics showing activities of clubs for the period Ist April, 1934, to 31st March, 1935, are shown as Appendix 111. (iii) Accidents. During the period under review there have been accidents to aircraft involving loss of life. On 13th September, 1934, D.H. Moth ZK-ABS, piloted by Mr. S. W. Green, of the New Plymouth Aero Club, and carrying Mr. J. A. Austin as passenger, crashed on the slopes of Mount Egmont. Both pilot and passenger were killed. The inquiry educed evidence that the machine had spun into the ground, but no evidence could be obtained as to why control was lost. On 24th November, 1934, the Otago Aero Club's D.H. Moth ZK-ACE, piloted by Mr. F. C. Taylor, with Mr. W. H. Bailey as a passenger, crashed at St. Andrews, approximately fifteen miles south of Timaru. The passenger was killed, and the pilot suffered minor injuries. The crash occurred whilst flying in conditions of low visibility due to thick drizzling rain, and was the direct result of the machine being stalled whilst attempting to land. On 28th November, 1934, whilst engaged in a display of air fighting at Te Aroha, a D.H. Moth and a Desoutter monoplane collided. The mainplane of the Moth came in contact with the tailplane of the Desoutter, and the former collapsed, the pilot, Mr. C. C. Waite, being killed, whilst the Desoutter was safely landed. On 19th January the Canterbury Aero Club's D.H. Moth ZK-ABQ, piloted by Mr. R. N. Roake, with Mr. C. Haigh as passenger, crashed into the sea on the coast approximately fifteen miles north of Waipara. The machine was proceeding from Blenheim to Christchurch in conditions of low visibility. Whilst following the coastline, the pilot, in avoiding a headland, executed a steep turn, when a wing tip apparently struck the water. In the resultant crash the under-carriage was whipped off, and pilot and passenger, using the wheels as floats, swam towards the shore. Mr. Roake later abandoned the wheels and swam to a low rock on to which he climbed, but he was washed off by a wave and struck his head, and being rendered unconscious, was drowned in spite of the gallant efforts made by Mr. Haigh to save him. 5. TRAINING. (a) Training : Regular Forces. Owing to their normal duties in connection with the training and administration of the Territorial Force, it has not been possible to carry out any training of the regular forces other than a refresher course of fourteen days' duration in each Command. These courses comprised an administrative and tactical exercise for officers, and a course in signalling, weapon-training, and the instruction of subordinate leaders for warrant and non-commissioned officers. Training at G.H.Q. Training Depot for recruits for the N.Z. regular forces has been continuous throughout the year. In May and September, 1934, squads of recruits for both the Army and the Air Force entered the depot, and in February, 1935, a further squad for the Army. The maximum strength of the depot has been 130, and the minimum 80. All squads carried out four months' elementary recruit training and then proceeded to specialized instruction, the nature of which depended upon whether they were destined for the Royal New Zealand Artillery, the New Zealand Permanent Staff, or the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The syllabus of training includes infantry training, physical training, weapon training (rifle, Lewis gun, Vickers gun, 3 in. mortar), gun drill, equitation, first-aid, signalling, anti-gas training, topography, and administration. The routine followed is modelled on that carried out by a soldier in a regular recruit depot in England. Throughout the year the N.Z. Permanent Army Service Corps carried out its normal work of providing rations and other supplies for the week-end camps, courses of instruction, and annual camps of Territorial units throughout New Zealand. This unit performs the same function for the permanent single personnel of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and the Royal New Zealand Air Force who are to occupy the barracks now in course of erection at Auckland, Wellington, and Wigram Aerodrome (Christchurch). (b) Training : Territorial Force. The obligatory training prescribed for the year for all units except Coast Artillery was a camp of six days' duration, excluding the days of arrival and departure, and a minimum of thirty-six hours' out-of-camp training. For Coast Artillery units the periods prescribed were ten days' camp training and sixty hours' out-of-camp training. In both cases pay of rank was given for both camp training and out-of-camp training for these periods. In addition two week-end bivouacs were authorized for each unit.

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Attendance at' annual camps was relatively satisfactory when the factors mitigating against a larger attendance are taken into consideration. These are, in order of importance, the difficulty of obtaining leave from employers or the reluctance of employees to ask for such leave, having regard to the effect such action might have upon the tenure of their employment, and, secondly, an abnormal season in parts of the South Island, which caused the absence of many seasonal workers who would otherwise have been present. As in the past, I would again appeal to employers for their co-operation in granting leave to their employees to attend camp. I realize that the incidence of sacrifice is uneven, but, apart from the question of the efficiency of the men so trained, it is only by attendance of the maximum number at camp that an economic return can be made for the money expended on training. The " overhead "is very little greater for a camp of 500 men than it is for one of 100 men, while the value in terms of technical efficiency is very materially increased. I do, however, desire to place on record my appreciation of the assistance I have received in this direction from a great many individual employers throughout the country. It is not too much to say that the attendance at camp of every man almost without exception represents a measure of sacrifice or inconvenience for the good of the State on the part of either a private employer or a Government Department. In this connection I desire to bring before your notice the Post and Telegraph Department, whose whole-hearted co-operation has been one of the most pleasurably outstanding features of the past difficult few years. During the year under review the New Zealand Army Dental Corps has been reorganized, and dental sections have been attached to each Field Ambulance. These sections have rendered valuable service during the annual camps of units to which they have been attached, by carrying out treatment sufficient to retain in camp soldiers who would otherwise have had to leave for attention elsewhere. The present strength of the Territorial Force, with its high turnover and the short service of those discharged, does not provide a reserve of trained soldiers, but it does permit of a relatively high degree of concentration on specialist training —e.g., machine gunners, mortar personnel, signallers, &c. The standard of training of specialists in the Territorial Force has never been higher than it is at present. Anti-gas training has been carried out to the limit of the resources available in the country. I have directed that anti-gas measures should be the subject of special study in the solution of all tactical problems during the forthcoming training-year. In spite of financial limitations, one week's continuous course of training for cadets (" barracks ") has been carried out at most secondary schools during the past year. In the Imperial Challenge Shield Competition, 1934, the entries for which from all parts of the Empire totalled 27,625, New Zealand cadets secured fourteen out of the ninety-two silver medals and eight out of the 140 bronze medals awarded by the National Rifle Association of Great Britain. Commenting upon this performance, the founder of the competition stated —" Although New Zealand takes no specially high prize, the all-round results are certainly most excellent, and reflect great credit on the New Zealand defence instructional staff and all others concerned." Two cadet rifle teams —St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, and the Otago Boys' High School — secured third and fourth places respectively in the Earl Roberts' Imperial Cadet Trophy Competition against seventeen selected teams from cadet units throughout the Empire. The standard of smallbore rifle shooting throughout all cadet units has been materially raised by the keen annual competition for the shields and medals donated by The Press (Christchurch) Co. 6. ORDNANCE SERVICES. (a) Duties. The Ordnance Services are responsible for the provision, distribution, repair, examination, and maintenance of small arms, machine guns, vehicles, clothing, equipment, and general stores ; the inspection and repair of armament and inspection of gun ammunition ; receipt, testing, storage, and issue of small-arms ammunition ; organization and control of ordnance workshops. Equipment and stores required for the Territorial Force have been maintained during the year in serviceable condition. Very careful attention has been paid to the inspection and testing of small-arms ammunition, some of the older stocks of which showed signs of serious deterioration. All ammunition issued for use in rifles has been carefully tested before issue, and ammunition found unfit for rifles has either been issued for use in machine guns or broken up, according to its condition. (b) Personnel. Officers. —It has not been possible, for financial reasons, to follow any progressive policy during the past few years in the appointment of officers to the N.Z.A.O.C. The officers of the corps are of two classes, administrative and technical, and the small numbers involved make it essential that appointments be made with careful regard to age and the necessity for technical training abroad. Two junior officers —one for administrative work and one for technical work—should be appointed as soon as funds permit, while one officer should attend, the Ordnance Mechanical Engineers' Course in England in 1936. Other Ranks (including civilians). —Special attention is being paid to the provision of armourers and instrument artificers. The position as regards armament-artificers is satisfactory, but appointments of young men for training as armourers and for instrument-repair work must be made as soon as practicable.

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Equipment and Stores. —Tlie situation regarding equipment and stores is far from satisfactory. Financial limitations have made it impossible to build up an adequate reserve of equipment and stores or to maintain those reserves that existed. These stores cannot be obtained in New Zealand, nor would they be available until at least six months after the outbreak of war. Apart from the provision of stores, a considerable amount of leeway has to be made up in carrying out alterations and additions to existing equipment. Shortage of skilled personnel and small stores, and inadequate workshops and machinery, together with the increased demands made upon them, are responsible for the present situation. Unfortunately financial limitations permits of no progress being made in remedying this position. An issue of boots has been made to all ranks of the Territorial Force during the past year and has proved satisfactory in every way. 7. STORE BUILDINGS AND WORKSHOPS. The Ordnance Depots are situated at Ngaruawahia, Trentham, and Burnham. The storage accommodation at Ngaruawahia and Burnham is reasonably satisfactory. At Trentham, where the greater quantity of reserve stores is held, the store buildings consist of the wooden hutments erected to accommodate troops during the war. Most of these buildings still have a considerable " life," but the lay-out is uneconomical in staff and administration and insufficient to accommodate any considerable increase in quantity of stores held. The stores required on mobilization cannot, under present conditions, be segregated and laid out as they should be. It is proposed, when money is available, to erect a modern store building at Trentham which will increase the storage available and anticipate the deterioration of the present wooden buildings. The principal workshop is at Trentham. Small workshops exist at North Head, Auckland, and Burnham, Canterbury. These workshops carry out repair and maintenance work on guns, howitzers, vehicles, machine guns, rifles, optical and other instruments, and miscellaneous small items. A marked increase in this work is to be expected with the advent of the new armament for coast defences and other equipment. A considerable extension of the workshop at Trentham is overdue, but cannot be undertaken with the money available in the vote. 8. RIFLE RANGES. Rifle ranges are required in several districts, and reconnaissances are proceeding. No improvement can be expected under present financial conditions, and a considerable expenditure in this connection must be faced in the near future. Only the bare essential maintenance work has been carried out on existing ranges during the year. 9. DEFENCE BUILDINGS: OFFICES, DRILL HALLS, BARRACKS, ETC. Existing Buildings.—During the past few years, expenditure on existing buildings has been confined to the most urgent maintenance work only. The buildings have now reached a state where serious deterioration will result unless considerable attention is paid to them. Several new drill halls are required, and offices generally, particularly those at the main centres, are inadequate, badly furnished, and of very poor appearance. It has not been possible to make any improvements in the position. New Buildings.—ln accordance with the policy of extending the defences of the Dominion, considerable progress has been made during the year with the erection of various buildings. At Fort Dorset, Wellington, large barracks to accommodate single personnel of the R.N.Z.A. have practically been completed. Stables and offices, and buildings to accommodate anti-aircraft guns, vehicles, and equipment have been erected. Surfacing, roading, and drainage have still to be done, and certain buildings, such as a small hospital and additional quarters, are required to complete the plan. At Narrow Neck, Auckland, buildings similar to those at Fort Dorset are in course of erection. At Burnham Camp a small building is required to accommodate single civilian employees of the Ordnance Depot, as no local facilities exist for their obtaining such accommodation. 10. RIFLE CLUBS. The free issue of ammunition to rifle clubs and the sales at reduced rates have been continued on the same increased scale as last year. This increase was made when signs of deterioration were observed in the older ammunition, and now that the stocks of such ammunition are nearing exhaustion it will be necessary to revert to the previous scale. The issue of ammunition of later date of manufacture should remove any cause for complaint on the part of the clubs on account of the issue of ammunition which at times showed certain defects, but which was unavoidable owing to the necessity of building up a reserve of reliable ammunition. Such ammunition for rifle practice was issued to both the Territorial Force and to rifle clubs without discrimination between them. When any doubt existed as to the serviceability of ammuniation, it has been reserved for practice with machine guns and light automatics, where it could be used without any risk to personnel. The numbers and strengths of rifle clubs are shown in Appendix I (d). The National Rifle Association held its annual meeting at Trentham from Ist to 6th March, 1935.

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11. NEW ZEALAND ARMY RIFLE ASSOCIATION. Financial limitations still prohibit the reintroduction of the annual meeting of this association. I record this fact with regret, as I regard these competitions as a very valuable stimulus to weapontraining efficiency, and as an event much prized by the Territorial Force. 12. TERRITORIAL FORCE ASSOCIATIONS. These associations have continued to render every possible assistance during the past year to the well-being of the Territorial Force. I desire to place on record both my personal appreciation and that of the Territorial Force of the efforts made by these public-spirited citizens, often at considerable inconvenience and expense to themselves, to further the interests of the citizen soldier. 13. FINANCE. For the year 1934-35 an appropriation of £532,151 was made for defence purposes, as compared with £283,703 for the previous year, the increase being necessary to provide for progress with the scheme of strengthening the air and coast defences of the Dominion, and to permit of certain measures being adopted for the encouragement of the Territorial Force, including the free issue of boots and payment for out-of-camp training, which were approved by the Government. Although every effort was made by the Department to have the work connected with the new defences sufficiently advanced to absorb the money voted, this was not possible, and the year finished with an under-expenditure of £66,919. This was due principally to the building programme being somewhat retarded through unforeseen causes, and to charges for aeroplanes and equipment on order from the Air Ministry not coming to hand as promptly as was expected. The actual liabilities as at the 31st- March, 1935, carried forward, amounted to £5,466 6s. 4d., and the commitments totalled £216,438. It may be mentioned that in carrying out the development programme at the Artillery Bases at Narrow Neck, Auckland, and Fort Dorset, Wellington, and at the R.N.Z.A.F. Base at Hobsonville, Auckland, and the Aerodrome at Wigram, near Christchurch, the Public Works Department, which has the work in hand, is availing itself of the contract system, as far as possible, and securing the benefit of the somewhat keen competition that exists amongst contractors at the present time to secure building work. The usual table showing the annual expenditure on the Land and Air Defences of the Dominion over the last eight years will be found in Appendix II of this report. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, W. L. H. Sinclair-Burgess, Major-General, Commanding N.Z. Military Forces.

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APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.—TABLES SHOWING STRENGTH OF THE N.Z. MILITARY FORCES AS AT 31st MARCH, 1935. (a) New Zealand Permanent Forces.

(b) Territorial Force (Active List only).

(c) Cadets.

(d) Rifle Clubs.

2—H. 19.

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Unit. Officers. Cadets Other Ranks. Total. t ■ V . I '1 N.Z. Corps .. .. .. .. 62 .. .. 62 N.Z. Eejjmajient Staff .. .. .. .. .. .. Ill 111 Royal. NvZc Artillery .. .. .. .. 14 .. 137 151 Royal .N.Z. Air Force . . .. .. .. 10 .. 101 111 N.Z. I'ormanent Army Service Corps . . . . .. . . 3 3 N.Z. Army. Medical Corps .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 N.Z. Army Ordnance Corps .. .. .. 5 .. 24 29 General Duty Section .. , .. .. .. .. 5 5 Attached from British Army . . .... 1 . . 1 2 Officer Cadets (in Australia) . . . . . . . . 11 . . 11 Recruits. ' .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 38 .. .. .. .. .. 92 11 421 524

Warrant Officers Arm or Service. Officers. and Non-com- Men. Total. missioned Officers. Mounted Rifles .. .. .. .. 175 418 2,013 2,606 Artillery .. .. .. .. .. 103 337 1,117 1,557 Engineers .. .. .. .. 15 48 125 188 Signals - .. .. .. 16 40 94 150 Infantry .. .. .. .. .. 313 626 3,079 4,018 Army Service Corps .. .. . . 19 60 149 228 Medical Corps .. .. .. .. 110 75 247 432 Veteriiary Corps .. .. .. .. Dental Corps , .. .. .. }■ 31 .. .. 31 Army Legal Department . . . . .. J Totals .. .. .. .. 782 1,604 6,824 9,210 Note. —Iii" addition to the above there are 918 bandsmen and 46 prospective recruits in regimental Cadet detachments.

>)< , ; , . , Command. Officers. Other Ranks. Total -rrn - > t ; Northern-' .. .. .. .. .. 120 4,632 4,752 Central'.. .. .. .. 108 4,819 4,927 Southern '' .. .. .. .. .. 135 6,721 6,856 Totals .,. .. .. .. 363 16,172 16,535 *. ... ' ■

I Command. Number of Clubs. Membership. Northern .. . . . . . . . . 22 837 Central .. .. .. .. .. 60 2,101 Southern .. .. .. .. .. 66 2,126 Totals .. .. .. .. 148 5,064

H.—l9.

APPENDIX II.—NET EXPENDITURE DURING LAST EIGHT YEARS.

APPENDIX III.—SUMMARY OF STATISTICS OF LIGHT AERO CLUBS FOR YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1935.

Approximate Cost of Paper.-—Preparation, not given ; printing (570 copies), £12.

By Authority: G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93s.

Price 6cl.]

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Year. ' Military Forces. ; Aviation Total. Defence Vote. £ £ £ 1927-28 .. .. .. .. .. 453,580 28,179 481,759 1928-29 .. .. .. .. .. 425,813 38,782 464,595 1929-30 .. .. .. .. .. 401,645 53,183 454,828 1930-31 .. .. .. .. .. 229,050 48,749 277,799 1931-32 .. .. .. .. .. 156,311 26,663 182,974 1932-33 .. .. .. .. 180,112 27,715 207,827 1933-34 .. .. .. .. 215,950 48,773 264,723 1934-35 .. .. .. .. .. 321,686 143,546 465,232 Public Works Fund. —Vote, Contingent Defence. 1927-28 .. .. .. .. .. 39,706 280 39,986 1928-29 .. .. .. .. .. 23,029 44,623 67,652 1929-30 .. .. .. .. .. 7,896 38,870 46,766 1930-31 .. .. .. .. .. 363 13,449 13,812 1931-32 .. .. Nil Nil Nil 1932-33 .. .. .. .. .. Nil Nil Nil 1933-34 .. .. .. .. Nil Nil Nil 1934-35 .. .. .. .. .. , -Nil Nil Nil

Hours flown. f Uml ? c A r of , ™, Pilots Number of Members (AssoAeroCIub - trained. Aircraft. °iate andllymg) Training. Passenger. asat31st March, Auckland .. .. .. 19 7 2,600 .. 757 Western Federated (North. Island) . . 11 3 946 6 429 Hawke's Bay . . . . . . 8 3 999 294 178 Wairarapa . . . . . . 11 2 586 50 210 Wellington . . .. .. 11 5 763 270 250 Marlborough . . .. .. 6 2 344 63 122 Canterbury .. .. .. 22 3 1,090 481 234 Otago .. .. .. 12 3 1,037 206 170 Southland . . . . . . 11 5 958 281 143 iWanawatu* . . . . . . 7 2 621 77 70 West Coast United (South Island) .. 2f .. .. .. 400 * Not an approved club. f Trained on private machine. Passed tests with N.Z. Airways.