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1910. NEW ZEALAND.

DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND: REPORT BY THE COUNCIL OF DEFENCE FOR THE YEAR ENDING 28th FEBRUARY, 1910.

Presented to both Homes of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

The Defence Council to the Eight Hon Ministbb of Defence. Wellington 2nd May, 1910. Sir,—I have the honour to submit the Report by the Council of Defence for the year 1909-10. I have, &c, A. W. Eobin, Colonel, Chief of the General Staff.

Meetings. During the year ended 28th February, 1910, the Council of Defence has met as required. The following changes took place in the Council: Colonel Davies, C.8., Inspector-General of the Forces, left for England in May, 1909, for training. Colonel R. J. Collins, 1.5.0., V.D., Finance Member to the Council, resigned on his appointment as Controller and Auditor-General. Colonel H. D. Tuson, Adjutant-General, will complete his term of service in the Dominion and return to his regiment, leaving New Zealand about the end of May, 1910. Policy. Four Subaltern officers left for England on the 24th July, 1909, and one Major in June, 1909 for training. Good reports have been received of these officers, and all have successfully passed the School of Musketry, Hythe, and Maxim Gun Course. The policy of general military training was given effect to during last session of Parliament, when legislation was introduced making training compulsory in Junior and Senior Cadets from ages twelve to eighteen, and from eighteen to twenty-one in a General Training Section. That an active Force of 20,000 all ranks, designated " Territorials," be maintained by voluntary enlistment, or by transfer from the General Training Section, eighteen to twenty-one years of age, should enlistment not be maintained. This Act had hardly come into operation when Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener visited New Zealand and inspected the defences and Forces at each 17th February to 3rd March, leaving proposals which recommended that the age of liability to service be extended to twenty-six yearsfoffage, and that be subdivided into a larger number of areas, &c. Department of the Chief of the General Staff. Field Organization, Military Operations, Staff Instructional Duties, Military Training and Education, Intelligence, Mobilisation, War Regulations. Field Organization. The reorganization of the Coast Defence and Mobile Field Force was practically ready for issue on the Ist March, commencement of the new military year, but, in view'bf thejvisit of Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, was held over for his remarks. Regiments and battalions of the Field Force are being reorganized on a peace and war establishment, and approval has been given for the appointment of permanent Adjutants and a sufficiency of N.C.O.s as administrators and instructors to each,

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