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The Board, on these grounds, do not consider it practicable to adopt an annual training in camp for the whole of the force. Volunteers, however, are invited to form camps, and, although their attendance is permitted under a certain restriction to count towards completing the required number of daylight drills, it is entirely at the option of individuals While in camp Volunteers of First and Second Lines would receive a daily ration, or Is. per diem in lieu thereof. Volunteers of the First Line attending for capitation purposes to be allowed in addition (pay for two drills) ss. for each day in camp, exclusive of the days of arrival and departure. Bands. The attachment of a band to a regiment is attended by so many advantages that no one in any way acquainted with military organization will dispute its necessity. The Board in their rules have allowed five men per company of the fixed strength to be employed as bandsmen. The maintenance of a band is attended with considerable expense, but corresponding value will be received in various ways. The Board are of opinion that some extra assistance on this account should be afforded by the Government, the nature of that assistance to be in the form of an annual allowance of £25 to each regiment as pay of a bandmaster. In the event of active service the bandsmen should be formed into an ambulance corps. Deill-sheds. In future, any new drill-sheds that are required should be erected by Government, maintained in repair by them, and held to be public property. Allowance to Commanding Officers. Commanding officers of regiments will require to visit their outlying companies and subdistricts ; in other respects also a certain amount of expenditure will be entailed upon them. To meet these travelling expenses, and to prevent the officer being actually out of pocket by giving his voluntary services, it is proposed that each commanding officer of a regiment should be granted an annual allowance of £50. Military Books. Arrangements should be made to obtain regularly from the War Office in England copies of all the new orders and circulars issued from time to time, together with military books of reference. Each district orderly-room should be kept supplied with these, so that gradual improvement may be kept up throughout the force. West Coast Feontiee. In that part of the west coast of the North Island in what are generally termed the frontier districts there are special peculiarities requiring special treatment and arrangements for the Volunteer Force within its borders. The Board have not included this portion of the force as coming within their recommendations. They have confined themselves to forming Taranaki and Wanganui into a regimental command, and have allotted a permanent staff to it, leaving all other arrangements to the Executive Government; but they recommend that, when in the opinion of Government all peculiarities in that portion of the colony cease to exist, the same system be adopted as the Board recommend for the Volunteer Force in general. Medical Staff. The Board have advised that for the formation of a medical staff a senior medical officer, who might have the title of honorary surgeon-general, should be appointed, and that this officer, in conjunction with the commandant, should arrange for whatever number of medical officers may be necessary, as also for the auxiliary services, such as ambulance, &c. Permanent Defence. The Board consider that the Volunteer Force as recommended by them would be sufficient not only to serve as the field force considered by Colonel Scratchley necessary in order to support the batteries included in his scheme for the defence of the principal harbours, but would also be a material protection to the principal centres of wealth and population from the ravages of actual invasion by any body of men likely to be landed by a hostile expedition. In conclusion, the Board cannot dismiss the subject without observing that the guns obtained for the defence of the harbours are still in store, and that no steps have been taken either for the construction of the works for which they are intended, nor provision made for the permanent force of skilled artillery and torpedo boats and service, constituting the First Line in the system of defence recommended by Colonel Scratchley. Estimated Cost. The Board, in presenting a schedule of the estimated cost of the proposed Volunteer Force for the coming year, desire to remark that certain items therein contained are not annual charges, and that, as a consequence, the estimates for succeeding years would be materially reduced. For instance, the force is to be supplied at the outset with uniforms which would last for three years, and with greatcoats which would last for six years. The cost to Government per man will therefore be as follows :— Infantry. 1883. 1884. £ b. A. £ s. A. Uniform ... ... ... ... 2 3 8 ... Nil. Greateoat ... ... ... ... 15 0 ... Nil. Pay ... ... ... ... 210 0 ... 210 0 Capitation ... ... ... ... 010 0 ... 010 0 £6 8 8 £3 0 0