MILITARY FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1949 Session I, H-19

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1949 NEW ZEALAND

MILITARY FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF

Presented to Both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

REPORT

The Hon. the Minister of Defence. Wellington, 14th June, 1949. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the New Zealand Military Forces for the period Ist June, 1948, to 31st May, 1949. General Remarks The period covered by this report has been one of preparation for the reactivation of the Territorial Force, an intensive programme of training for the Regular Force, and the preparation and maintenance of the equipment required for training. At the same time peacetime administration has been revised, brought up to date, and placed on a sound basis.

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Territorial Force The plan for re-forming the Territorial Force is being developed in three phases. The first phase —the appointment and training of officers—has already been implemented. Voluntary enlistment of former officers of the 2 N.Z.E.F. proved most satisfactory and resulted in 451 officers of all arms attending general refresher courses held in the three military districts during February and May. Nearly all of the students were officers with long and distinguished war service. The courses were designed to bring them up to date in military matters generally and to acquaint them with changes in doctrine and in organization since the 1939-45 war. Corps refresher courses are to be held at the Army School, Trentham, and at Waiouru in June and July, and it is expected that some four hundred officers will attend. Preparations have been made to put in train the second phase of the plan, which provides for the enlistment and training of NC.O.s and the formation of Territorial units in skeleton form. Senior Territorial Force Appointments Consequent upon the reconstitution of the New Zealand Territorial Force the following senior appointments were made on Ist December, 1948 : Brigadier F. M. H. Hanson, D.5.0., 0.8. E., M.M., for duty at Headquarters, New Zealand Division. Brigadier R. W. Harding, D.5.0., M.M., E.D., as Commander, Ist Infantry Brigade. Brigadier I. L. Bonifant, D.5.0., E.D., as Commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade. Brigadier J. T. Burrows, D.5.0., E.D., as Commander, 3rd Infantry Brigade. 2 N.Z.E.F. (Japan) New Zealand's part in the occupation of Japan ended during the period under review, the New Zealand component of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force having honourably performed its allotted duties in the task of laying the foundations of peace and democracy among the Japanese people. The decision taken in March, 1948, to withdraw the Force was put into effect during the latter half of the year. The first drafts of the main body left Japan for New Zealand in July, and the remainder in September, 1948. Rear parties returned home in December, 1948. Medical boarding and discharge of all returned personnel, other than those on Regular Force engagements, were effected as soon as practicable after their arrival in New Zealand. Fiji Military Forces In accordance with the decision of the Government to assume responsibilities for the defence of Fiji, Colonel C. L. Pleasants, D.5.0., M.D., E.D., has been seconded to the Fiji Military Forces as Commandant and representative of the New Zealand Chiefs of Staff and has assumed his appointment in Fiji. Authority has been given for five additional officers and eight N.C.O.s of the Regular Force to be seconded to the Fiji Military Forces. The principal New Zealand Army commitments in Fiji will be the provision of instructors and administrative personnel for locally-raised Artillery and Infantry units, together with the provision of equipment for these units from stocks held in New Zealand,

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Army Establishments Based on the present needs of the Army, establishments were fixed during the year at 3,747 all ranks, including Women's Services. These establishments are kept continuously under review with the object of adjustment to meet changing commitments as they arise. The strength on Ist June, 1948, was 391 officers and 1,636 other ranks, a total of 2,027 all ranks. The strength was therefore at the time 1,720 below establishment. To make good this disparity recruiting was intensified during the year, resulting in an intake as follows : Men recruits .. .. .. .. 610 Regular Force Cadtks .. .. .. 185 Women recruits .. .. .. .. 109 Total .. .. .. .. 904 This intake has been offset in part by retirements and discharges, leaving the strength at 30th April, 1949, 383 officers, and 2,185 other ranks, a total of 2,568 all ranks. Enlistment in United Kingdom In order to fill vacancies in certain specialist trades, a limited recruiting campaign has been conducted in the United Kingdom. From this source some 4-4 tradesmen have already been enlisted and are either in New Zealand, en route, or waiting passage to New Zealand. Changes in Senior Regular Force Appointments Major changes in senior appointments in the New Zealand Regular Force during the period under review were — Temporary Colonel Y. G. Jervis, 0.8. E., relinquished the appointments of Acting Adjutant-General and Acting Second Military Member of the Army Board as from 28th June, 1948, and was placed on the Retired List. On 20th November, 1948, Temporary Colonel C. S. J. Duff, D.5.0., relinquished the appointment of New Zealand Liaison Officer in Melbourne and was replaced by Temporary Colonel I). T. Maxwell, 0.8. E. Major-General Sir Norman W. McD. Weir, K.8.E., C.8., relinquished the appointments of Chief of the General Staff and First Military Member of the Army Board on 31st March, 1949, and was succeeded by Major-General K. L. Stewart, C.8., C.8.E., D.S.O. Brigadier K. L. Stewart, C.8., C.8.E., D.5.0., relinquished the appointments of Adjutant-General and Second Military Member of the Army Board on 31st March, 1949, and was succeeded by Brigadier W. G. Gentry, D.5.0., 0.8. E. Temporary Colonel B. S. Finn, C.8.E., D.5.0., E.D., K.H.D.S., relinquished the appointment of Director of Dental Services (Navy, Army, and Air) on 31st March, 1949. He was replaced by Colonel J. F. Fuller, 0.8. E., 8.D.5., on a part-time basis. Temporary Colonel C. L. Pleasants, D.5.0., M.C., E.D., was seconded to the Fiji Military Forces (as Commandant and representative of the N.Z. Chiefs of Staff) on 28th March, 1949.

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Honours and Awards : British Since Ist June, 1948, His Majesty the King lias been graciously -pleased to give orders for the following appointments to be granted to New Zealand Regular Force personnel:— (a) Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) — Major-General N. W. McD. Weir, C.8., C.8.E., Generals List. (b) Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (0.8. E.) — Temporary Colonel J. I. Brooke, N.Z. Regiment. (c) Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) — Major and Quartermaster C. H. Kidman, M.M., Supernumerary List. Senior Commander E. Gray, N.Z.W.A.A.C. Captain and Quartermaster L. Mossong, Supernumerary List. Junior Commander M. E. Steel, N.Z.W.A.A.C. Lieutenant and Quartermaster R. J. Healey, Supernumerary List. Warrant Officer (Class I) H. R. Sigley, N.Z. Regiment. (d) The award of the British Empire Medal (B.E.M.) — Temporary Warrant Officer (Class II) A. W. S. Murray, N.Z. Regiment. Temporary Warrant Officer (Class II) F. E. Donovan, N.Z. Regiment. Sergeant R. W. Coe, R.N.Z.A. Sergeant C. E. Gleeson, R.N.Z.E.M.E. Overseas Courses of Instruction The practice of sending officers and other ranks to be trained overseas has been continued, the number leaving to attend schools and courses of instruction in the United Kingdom during the year being seven. In addition, one officer attended an advanced Artillery course in the United States of America. This practice makes it possible for officers and other ranks to keep closely in touch with developments in military thought and organization and helps to ensure up-to-date standards of training. The Army School A continuous series of courses was held at the Army School, Trentham, for officers and other ranks of the Regular Force. This included an eleven weeks' O.C.T.U. Course, the first to be held for the purpose of selecting women officers for the Regular Force. A course of three weeks duration was held at Army School during February-March, at which six of the more senior of the Army Department's civilian staff underwent training designed to impart a background of military knowledge, thus better fitting the civilian staff officers for their part in the administration of the Army. Royal Military College of Australia The policy of training a considerable proportion of the future officers of the Regular Force at the Royal Military College of Australia is being continued. Five Staff Cadets from New Zealand graduated at the end of 1948 and have since been granted their commissions. The number of New Zealand Staff Cadets now training at the College is twenty-two, including ten who entered at the beginning of 1949. A good response to recruiting has made it possible to fill all the vacancies at the College allotted to New Zealand with young men of an excellent type. An important development during the year was the Government's decision to bear the total normal cost, part of which formerly fell on parents, of maintaining Cadets at the College. Thus, all Cadets now enter the College on an equal financial footing.

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Regular Force Cadets Provision was made early in 1948 for the enlistment of youths between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years as Regular Force Cadets. The first intake of 92 Cadets commenced training in July of last year, and a further 93 entered camp in January, 1949. The Cadets are given special training, covering military, academic, and trade subjects, by a fully-qualified instructional staff at the Army School, Trentham. Some, enlisting for an initial term of eight years, are apprenticed in one of a wide variety of trades, and others, enlisting for an initial term of five years, are being trained as Corps instructors. Trade trainees are encouraged to gain civilian trade qualifications to help establish themselves in civilian life if they leave the Army, and all Cadets are encouraged to sit examinations such as School Certificate and University Entrance. Approximately one-third of those now in camp will sit for School Certificate this year, and fifteen are studying at post School Certificate level. Army Apprenticeships A total of sixty-three apprenticeships were entered into during the year. The numbers in each trade are as under : Armourers .. .. 2 Instrument mechanics .. 1 Butchers .. . . 1 Painters . . .. 2 Carpenters .. .. 16 Panel-beaters .. .. 2 Cooks .. .. 3 Telecommunication mechanics 3 Electricians, wiremen .. 3 Turners and fitters .. 5 Electricians, vehicle .. 2 Vehicle mechanics .. 23 Artillery A School of Artillery has been established at Waiouru Camp with effect from Ist October, 1948, at which instruction in all aspects of field branch and anti-tank gunnery will be given. As far as possible, the school will be staffed by officers and N.C.O.s who have attended Gunnery Staff Courses in the United Kingdom, thereby ensuring a high standard of instruction. Rifle Clubs In March, 1948, permission was granted for new rifle clubs to be formed, and 30 have been gazetted during the year. Many of the older clubs had become inactive over the war years and, failing a minimum membership of twenty, are being disbanded. There are now 160 rifle clubs, the great majority of which are active, with an over-all membership of 5,400. New Zealand Cadet Corps In April, 1949, there were 115 School Cadet units with a strength of 600 officers and 25,000 Cadets, the latter representing 90 per cent, of all boys in the post-primary schools. In September and October a conference was held in Wellington, the delegates being Headmasters and school-teachers experienced in Cadet training. Their recommendations on the future Cadet policy are now under consideration. As a result of an urgent recommendation from this Conference the provision of annual camps, free of all cost to the parents, was approved for Cadet units. During the summer months some 80 officers and 3,500 cadets were encamped for six days' training and, subject to the requirements of the future Territorial Force first being met, it is anticipated that greater numbers will go into camp in 1949-50. . -

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Army Education and Welfare Service Army educational services were maintained throughout New Zealand during the year, and in Japan up to the time of departure of the Forces. The main formal educational functions of the service have now become the general education of the Regular Force Cadets, and coaching and conduct of Regular N.C.O. Promotion Examinations. Informal educational work, including the provision of facilities for cultural and hobby activities, has continued. The Services Film Library, administered by A.E.W.S., has acted as a purchasing and distributing agent for the three Services. A.E.W.S. Library depots, the stock for which is now obtained through the National Library Service, are now servicing forty-two libraries of Navy, Army, and Air Force units. As far as duties allowed, troops are encouraged to take part in a variety of sports for which facilities can be provided. Winter and summer inter-district tournaments were held, and Army teams took part in inter-service competitions. During the war years many of the Church bodies catered for the welfare of soldiers by staffing recreation huts in Army camps. With the smaller number now in Army camps it was considered that this task could be more efficiently performed by one organization. Accordingly, with the agreement of the Churches concerned, Y.M.C.A. has taken charge of the one institute building remaining in each camp. In their operations they are advised by a Committee representative of all the principal Churches. Expenses, less profits earned, are met from the Army vote. Engineer Service Howses.—-During the period under review, 66 housing units were built for married Army personnel by the Construction Squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Engineers. One aluminium house has been purchased and erected at Waiouru Camp as a test of the suitability of aluminium houses for Army requirements. Pensioners' Colony.—A portion of Burnham Camp has been handed over on loan to the Department of Health for utilization as a pensioners' colony and is now occupied. Maintenance. —Wartime construction now presents a major task of maintenance, and, whilst routine work has been performed by the Ministry of Works, certain maintenance has had to be deferred. This has been occasioned by the national shortage of labour and building-materials. Supplies and Transport Rations issued to troops in New Zealand for the year totalled 410,373, the average cost being 2s. 3-42 d. per daily ration, an increase of 2-038 d. on the previous year. Rations issued to Polish Children's Camp, Pahiatua, amounted to 111,018 at a total cost of £11,456 15s. lOd. Foodstuffs imported during the year consisted of tea, rice, canned and dried fruits to a total value of £1,414 lis., a decrease on the previous year's importations by £5,917 15s. 2d. The consumption of petrol for the year amounted to 231,370 gallons, which shows a decrease of 42,619 gallons on the previous year. Fuels for heating and cooking purposes were consumed in the following quantities (previous year's consumption are shown in parenthesis):— Tons. Coal .. .. .. .. 2,441 (3,263) Coke .. .. .. .. 662 (693) Firewood .. .. .. 730 (1,052) Gallons. Fuel oil .. .. ..82,717 (91,303)

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Medical Services The general health of the Army has been maintained at a good standard. During the year the average sick-rate per thousand per day in New Zealand was 29-4 and the hospital admission rate was 1-5. For the final months during which troops were in Japan the general health there was very good and the sick-rate was much lower than average. At present medical officers on the staffs of Army H.Q., Wellington, and the district H.Q.s are serving on a part-time basis. The services of private medical practitioners are engaged as required for the inspection and treatment of serving soldiers. The strength of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service is at present 10 Sisters and 6 V.A.D.s. Two Sisters and 1 V.A.D. are seconded to Royal New Zealand Navy, and 6 Sisters are seconded to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Matron-in-Chief continues to serve on the staff of Army H.Q. in a part-time capacity. Hygiene and sanitation in camps remains good. A Hygiene Wing has been established at Army School, and selected personnel from all three Armed Services receive instruction there. Medical stores have been brought up to date, and all over-age and perishable stores have been replaced. Efforts are being made to standardize equipment for all three Services. During the year the visual assessments of recruits and the provision of visual services to serving personnel (Army, Navy, and Air) has continued to be carried out by civilian opticians. This procedure has continued to prove satisfactory and an adequate service has been provided. Ordnance Service All ordnance establishments have been fully occupied consolidating and maintaining stocks. The redistribution of equipment to ensure that balanced stocks required both for training and mobilization are held in all districts has not progressed as well as anticipated owing to lack of accommodation at ordnance depots and the difficulty experienced in moving heavy equipment either by rail or sea. The storage problem has been aggravated by the relinquishment of 86,000 square feet of storage space at Seaview to assist the urgent requirements of other Government Departments. During the period under review 730 vehicles, including 356 carriers, were disposed of through War Assets Realization Board. The main items of other stores disposed of through War Assets Realization Board consisted of large quantities of clothing and truck tires. Details of stores received and value of requisitions and orders placed overseas and in New Zealand during the year are as under : Value of requisitions on — £ United Kingdom .. .. .. .. 79,088 Australia .. .. .. .. .. 2,924 Value of receipts exUnited Kingdom , , .. .. .. 22,239 Australia .. .. .. .. 2,785 8.C.0.F. .. .. .. .. .. 133,307 Value of Orders in New Zealand--Placed. inc. ived. Outstanding. £ £ £ Clothing.. .. .. 56,733 35,481 57,031 General stores .. .. 75,609 74,303 33,359 At all depots shortage of staff has curtailed a full programme of maintenance and preservation of much valuable equipment,

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Inspecting Ordnance Officers' Group Frequent inspections are necessarily made to ascertain the extent to which stored ammunition has deteriorated. Consequent upon these inspections all ammunition that has depreciated and thereby become dangerous is surveyed and finally destroyed. Under the surveys conducted by the group during the year many tons of ammunition and explosives have been surveyed, and any which was unfit for use was disposed of by the normal method of dumping at sea. A quantity requiring repair was made serviceable. During the year the Chief Inspecting Ordnance Officer paid a visit to Australia for the purpose of examining methods of organization, inspection, repair, small-arms-ammunition production, and proofing. The experience gained as a result of this visit is being applied with advantage to this organization in New Zealand. Defence Services Provision Office This office closed down in December, 1948, when responsibility for finalizing the remaining few transactions was taken over by other branches of the Army Department and the War Assets Realization Board. During the year stores to the value of £109,289 were shipped overseas on behalf of the United Kingdom Government. Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Service To repair the great variety of complex modern weapons highly-skilled tradesmen in many different trades are required in R.N.Z.E.M.E. workshops. It has not been possible to obtain sufficient personnel to perform all tasks, and, in spite of a steady, but small, increase in man-power throughout the year, the strength of R.N.Z.E.M.E. is still less than half of the approved establishment. Such a shortage of skilled personnel makes it most difficult to cope with current repairs and to carry out reconditioning of the large quantity of equipment held in store. However, the efficient employment of the limited technical man-power available has resulted in a very creditable amount of inspection, repair, and maintenance being effected on wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery equipments, small arms, instruments and radar. Navy and Air Force vehicles have also been repaired in R.N.Z.E.M.E. workshops. During the year a mobile team was established in each of the three districts to visit all units for the purpose of inspecting vehicles, instructing units in vehicle maintenance, and doing what immediate repairs lay within the team's capacity until such time as units were in a position to do their own maintenance. Certain tradesmen from United Kingdom on a five-year engagement have commenced duty in M.T. and Armament workshops, and more are expected. These tradesmen will give valuable assistance in their respective trades, and will help to fill the gap which exists until the present apprentices qualify as journeymen in over four years' time. Reparations machinery ex-Germany has been periodically inspected, and somesuitable machine tools have been acquired, which will enable certain very old and worn machines to be disposed of by workshops. Dental Services During the period under review the staff situation within the Royal New Zealand Army Dental Corps has been considerably improved by the addition of four recentlyqualified dental surgeons and by very necessary increase in the number of dental clerk

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orderlies and dental mechanics. As a result it has been possible to maintain personnel of the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force at a high level of dental health. If dental coverage is to be efficient and complete, however, farther increases will be necessary, especially of qualified dental surgeons. At present all main Army and Air establishments are catered for either by their own resident dental officer or by visits from a dental officer of a nearby establishment. In many instances units are covered by periodical visits of caravan dental trailers. Members of the Forces in outlying areas rely upon the provisions that exist for urgent dental treatment by civilian dental practitioners ; they obtain more extensive treatment when attending courses at, or when visiting, establishments where service facilities are available. All new recruits and Cadets joining the Army during the year have been examined and rendered dentally fit prior to posting to a unit. Chaplains Department The Chaplains Dominion Advisory Council has recently been reconstituted as an advisory body to all three Services. It is to comprise representative senior Chaplains of all the principal denominations. Pay (a) New Rates for Women. —The rates of pay for N.Z.W.A.A.C. have recently been reviewed. New rates, providing increments in pay for service, were approved by Cabinet and came into effect on Ist April, 1949. (b) Sick-leave Without Pay: Social Security Benefits. —Arrangements have now been made with the Social Security Department to cover the cases of servicemen who are granted sick-leave without pay. The normal procedure that applies to civilians in similar circumstances will henceforth apply to servicemen. (c) Territorial Force Rates of Pay.—Rates of pay for the Territorial Force were approved by Cabinet on 20th October, 1948. The general basis of these rates is that Territorial Force personnel will receive the minimum Regular Force rate of pay for the rank held. No allowances other than travelling-allowances will be payable. (d) Location Allowances. —In consequence of the introduction of new rates of pay for the Army in April, 1947, a review was made of the allowances payable to personnel stationed abroad. Government approval to new location allowances to be payable in conjunction with the new rates of pay was given on 3rd November, 1948, to cover personnel in Australia, and on 16th March, 1949, for those in the United Kingdom. Those concerned had the option of receiving the new allowances retrospectively from Ist April, 1946. The New Zealand War Service Medal Following the institution of the New Zealand War Service Medal by His Majesty the King in September, 1948, the Army Department placed an order for the ribbon on behalf of the three Armed Services. To date sufficient ribbon for an issue to serving personnel of the Regular Forces only has been received. Bulk consignments are on the way, however, and it is hoped that all demands for the ribbon from those entitled to wear it will be met at an early date. Manufacture of the medal itself has not yet begun, and it will therefore be several months before its distribution can be undertaken.

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Pay Accounts The year under review lias seen the virtual completion of the greater part of the war and immediate post-war activities of Pay Accounts and Base Records. Apart from the distribution of Campaign Stars and War Medals and the review of war gratuity payments made to certain classes of war pensioners following the recent amendment to the War Service Gratuity Regulations, the work which remains is largely of a " washing-up " nature. War Service Gratuity.-—During the twelve months ended 31st March, 1949, 10,563 war service gratuity applications were received, bringing the total applications lodged to 237,715. The total amount deposited to war service gratuity Post Office accounts to 31st March 1949, was £20,353,175, of which £211,100 was deposited during the year ended 31st March, 1949. The recent amendment to the War Service Gratuities Emergency Regulations 1945 extends the period to which minimum payments for pensionable disability and death apply to three years after the date of entitlement. This involves the review of some twenty thousand cases which can be dealt with from office records, while there may be up to five thousand more in respect of whom pensions have been granted since 31st March, 1946, or later date of entitlement, although they had no pensionable disability when the original application was made for the gratuity. Contact will be made with these men by advertising the effect of the amended regulations in the returned servicemen's Journals. Final Pay.—The number of soldiers' accounts brought to finality during the year totalled 2,263. Free Rail Passes: Defendants of Deceased Personnel. —During the year ended 31st March, 1949, 51 twenty-eight-day free rail passes were issued to widows, and to mothers of unmarried deceased servicemen. General. —There are still a few open pay accounts for personnel receiving hospital treatment, but these will be finalized within the next three or four months when the men complete treatment or are transferred to pension. Besides the 25,000 cases mentioned in paragraph (1) to be reviewed, some 5,500 persons have not yet applied for the gratuity, and a considerable number of other payments issuable on application have not yet been claimed, although application forms have been forwarded to the personnel concerned. Base Records Personal Files. —Apart from the normal traffic of personal files, the records room staff has been, and still is, fully employed in purging the main filing system of " dead " material, &c., in order to give more filing space. During the year the records room staff has been progressively reduced and now numbers 22, as against 56 employed at the end of the previous year. History Sheets. —The issue of Certificates of Discharge to all personnel who have had overseas service was completed towards the end of the year, and the staff of the History-sheets Section has been reduced to the minimum considered necessary to deal with the issue of campaign stars and medals. The staff employed on this and allied sections is now reduced from over 100 to 51.

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Nominal Roll of Embarkations. —The printing of this roll has been completed up to Volume 13, covering embarkations to the 31st March, 1944. The fourteenth roll (embarkations to the 31st December, 1944) is in the hands of the printer, and the fifteenth and final roll, showing embarkations during 1945, is ready for printing. New Zealand War Deaths Register. —It was recommended by the Principal Administrative Officer's (Personnel) Committee that there should be published a register containing particulars of all members of the New Zealand Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving during the war period 3rd September, 1939, to 2nd September, 1945. It was arranged that the War Histories Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, would publish the register and that Base Records would be responsible for preparing the Army list and correlating the lists to be prepared by the other Services. The Army register is complete, and those of the Navy and Merchant Navy have been received. The Air Force list is now awaited, and upon receipt the completed register will be handed over to War Histories Branch for publication. New Zealand Memorial Cross.—All claims received for the Memorial Cross have been •dealt with and over 12,000 Crosses have been engraved and distributed. By arrangement with War Pensions, where an ex-serviceman dies and his death is attributable to his overseas war service Base Records receives notification. The next-of-kin is then advised of the eligibility of the widow and mother to claim the Cross if they so desire. Memorial Scroll.—The printing of the Memorial Scrolls is about half-completed, and the Government Printer is continuing with this work as rapidly as available staff and machinery will allow. Scrolls in respect of Navy and Merchant Navy personnel have already been completed. As the Scrolls are received from the Printing Office they are being prepared for despatch, but will not be released until the printing is finished. Campaign Stars and Medals. —Supplies of all stars and medals, with the exception of the New Zealand War Service Medal, are now to hand from the United Kingdom. Arrangements have already been made with the Post and Telegraph Department to have application forms made available at all post-offices. Proofs of the necessary forms have been prepared, and these will be printed and distributed when the Service Departments are ready to commence issuing the medals. General.—Coincident with the diminishing activities of both the Pay and Records Branches of Base Records organization, staff has been released to other branches of the Army Department and to other Government Departments. Of the staff of 226 employed as at the 31st March, 1948, there remains now a total of 122, distributed as follows : Pay Accounts, 24 ; Base Records, 98. Accommodation.-—As Base Records activities and staff are diminishing, office space in the Victoria Street building is being released for the accommodation of other Departments. Approximately one-half of the top floor has been already taken over by the Lands and Survey Department, and it is expected that the remainder of that floor will be vacated shortly. The whole of Pay Accounts and Base Records will be then accommodated on the ground and first floors. Deserters Twenty-one soldiers who deserted overseas and thirty-seven who deserted in New Zealand during the war have not yet been apprehended. Full particulars of the absentees and warrants for their arrest have been issued to the Police Department.

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Accommodation The occupancy of rented land and premises has been reduced to a minimum. Seven tenancies, with a total annual rental of £3,000, have been vacated. The net total office and storage floor space released during the year was 92,600 square feet, of which 83,700 represented Government-owned and 8,900 privately-owned property. The land released comprised 24 acres of privatelv-owned property which reverted to the lessors, and 500 acres of Army-owned land, which was sold. Movements Movement control throughout New Zealand conducted 35 embarkations totalling 55 personnel and 90 disembarkations totalling 2,388 personnel. This included the returning 2 N.Z.E.F. (Japan) and 11 recruits for the Regular Force from the United Kingdom. Army personnel moved by air to and from destinations outside New Zealand totalled : outward, 21 ; inward, 42. New Zealand Railways provided six special trains carrying 2,353 military personnel. Total Army personnel booked through Railway Transport Officers on ordinary trains amounted to 14,254. Dependants of New Zealand Services' personnel disembarked in New Zealand totalled : wives, 14 ; fiancees, 13 ; children, 15. In addition, Movement Control arranged transportation for Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Navy dependants arriving in New Zealand. Total Army personnel booked through Railway Transport Officers on the interIsland steamer express amounted to 7,951. Army Expenditure The expenditure brought to charge under "War Expenses—Army " during the financial year 1948-49 was £1,661,069, while miscellaneous receipts totalled £217,233, making a net expenditure of £1,443,836 for the year. In addition, the sum of £292,928 was received through disposal of surplus assets by Army and £176,261 by War Assets Realization Board on account of Army, a total of £469,189. The expenditure under Consolidated Fund vote "Army" was £2,229,876, with departmental receipts amounting to £186,630, a net expenditure of £2,043,246. K. L. Stewart, Major-General, Chief of the General Staff.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given printing (668 copies), £22 10s.

By Authority: B. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 949.

Price 6d.]

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