H.—l9.

8

17. Staff College. Captain R. 0. Chesney, New Zealand Staff Corps, has been admitted to the Staff College, Camberley, England. Captain J. E. Duigan, New Zealand Staff Corps, has been admitted to the Staff College, Quetta, India. Four officers are desirous this year of presenting themselves as candidates for the Staff College at Camberley. 18. Royal Military College of Australia. The total number of Cadets at the Royal Military College of Australia is seventeen. Two of the first entry have been returned to New Zealand, as they failed to pass the necessary qualifying examinations. Out of the six who sat for the entrance examination this year, only three qualified. Steps have been taken to give a wider publicity to the conditions under which Cadets can enter the College, and the prospects and career open to them in the Permanent Forces of the Dominion, with the result that it is anticipated that a considerably larger number of candidates will be forthcoming this year than has hitherto been the case, and that we shall be able to send the ten Cadets which the Australian authorities hope for annually from the Dominion. I personally visited the College in November last, and am glad to be able to report that the instruction and treatment of our Cadets there is most satisfactory. The standard of the College is high in every respect, and I have no hesitation in saying that it compares favourably with the other military establishments of the Empire. 19. Examination of Officers for Promotion. No promotions, either of Permanent or Territorial officers, have been made without their having passed the necessary examination for promotion. (a.) Officers of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and New Zealand Staff Corps. This examination is carried out by the Home authorities, and is the same as that for officers of the Imperial Regular Army. In May, 1912, 29 officers presented themselves for examination, and 22 passed; in December, 1912, 14 officers presented themselves, and 10 passed. Altogether, since the inauguration of the scheme of universal training, 54 officers have presented themselves, and 48 passed. (b.) Territorial Officers. This examination is conducted under the supervision of the Headquarters Staff. In August, 1912, 90 officers presented themselves for examination, and 58 passed; in February, 1913, 71 officers presented themselves, and 46 passed. Altogether, since the inauguration of the scheme of universal training, 370 officers have presented themselves, and 237 passed. A report on these examinations has been issued for the guidance and instruction of officers sitting for future examinations. 20. Staff Tours and Courses of Instruction. Staff tours, tactical exercises, and courses of instruction have been held in districts under the direction of the Officers Commanding Districts. A Staff tour under my direction was held at Temuka in February, at which the District and Brigade Commanders and their Staffs attended. The instruction obtained at this tour was well worth the money expended on it. A satisfactory feature was the transport of officers to and from their work by officers designate of the new Motor Reserve Corps. This proved very efficient and less expensive than the hiring of motors. A report on this tour has been printed and issued. Courses of Instruction for Territorial officers and N.C.O.s and Cadet officers will, if funds permit, be held during the current year in all Area Groups. 21. New Zealand Military Journal. The New Zealand Military Journal has now reached the second number of the second volume. It is hoped that all officers have been afforded instruction from its publication; but it is regretted that Territorial Force officers are so diffident in coming forward with their literary contributions. It cannot be expected when Imperial Officers in the Dominion are so hard at work in carrying on the organization and training of the Military Forces that they can find much time to write for the Journal. It must be remembered that a time will arrive in the future when the publishing of the Journal will be left entirely in the hands of New-Zealanders, and it will depend entirely on their own efforts. There are many subjects in connection with the defence of this Dominion which officers who give any thought to the subject can write about for the benefit of others. 22. Mapping and Survey. A great deal of work has been accomplished during the past year. Hitherto the General Staff has been much handicapped, by the absence of good maps. Theory is good as far as it goes, but if officers are to be made fit to take command in the field, it is essential that they should be taught how to apply the principles they have learnt indoors to actual situations on the ground. Such instruction can efficiently be carried out by means of regimental tours, and for these good maps are necessary.