H.—l9

15

already paid the first cost of these cookers. It is considered that an additional supply should be obtained this year, some of a smaller pattern for use of the smaller units, such as Field Engineers, Field Batteries, and Medical Corps; the larger cookers to be used for regimental and brigade camps. The adoption of this field cooker eliminates the use of the camp-oven, fry-pan, and the 8 gal. and 20 gal. boilers, which were never very satisfactory, the camp-ovens especially being a constant source of expense owing to breakages, on account of their brittle nature. There is a good supply of camp-kettles in the Dominion, but, owing to the hard usage they receive, many have become unserviceable, and will require replacing this year. In order to enable units to become self-supporting as regards cooking in camp or on manoeuvres, &c, a months' course of instruction in field cooking was carried out at Trentham in October. This course was attended by forty-seven candidates selected from the various units, and covered instruction in kitchen-work, field cooking, construction of field ovens, &c, and special instruction in cooking for invalids in the field. Thirty-eight candidates qualified as competent to supervise the cooking of a regiment, seven as company cooks, and two candidates failed to complete the course owing to illness. _ The establishments provide for a Sergeant Cook per regiment, and it was decided to grant them Is. 6d. per diem extra-duty pay, and other qualified cooks Is. per diem extra-duty pay, in addition to the pa} ; - of their rank, together with exemption from other military training during the year. A- further course of instruction will be held this year, but further inducements will be necessary to ensure an adequate supply of cooks, as hitherto the number forthcoming has been very disappointing. (c.) Camp Equipment. Ihere are 2.937 tents (circular) in the Dominion, of which number sixteen have been seventeen years in use, 311 have been thirteen years in use, 782 have been twelve years in use, 542 have been five years in use, and the balance from one to three years. It has been observed from the service of many of these tents that they are not suitable for camps held late in the season, and they must be replaced shortly. The same applies to marquees. We have not sufficient tents in the Dominion to accommodate the whole of our troops if brigaded, and we have so far been able to provide sufficient camp equipment for the different units only because they have not been encamped at one and the same time. It -will therefore be necessary, if combined training of the various arms is to be carried out next year, to place an order at once for an additional supply of tents and marquees. The supply of waterproof ground-sheets at present available in the Dominion for the use of the Forces is but 8,000, which, it will be recognized, is a totally inadequate number. The reason the supply has not been increased latterly was that it was deemed advisable to withhold any further orders while the high prices for rubber ruling recently were maintained. It will now be necessary to order a large supply of these ground-sheets, so that they may be available for the use of the troops during next training season. Hie following scale governed the issue of camp equipment, as far as available, to the brigade camps : —

Scale, including officers and G' lard. Nature of Stores. £?„ ,, , , Staff. Mounted Rifles, Brigade Staff. Mounted Field Rifles, Artillery, per M20. per 100. Garrison Artillery and Meld'RE., per 100. infantry, Per 100. per M20. Axes, felling, helved . . . . . . 1 1 Axes, pick .. .. .. .. I 1 2 Buckets, water .. .. .. 12 25 Basins, washhand .. .. . . 12 23 Boilers with lid, 9 gal. .. . . . . . . 1 20 gal. .. .. . . . . 1 Candlesticks, bayonet . . . . . . 3 23 Choppers, meat . . . . . . . . 1 Crowbars (if required) . . . . . . 1 1 Dishes, meat .. .. .. .. .. 23 Kettles, camp . . . . .. . . 20 Lanters, stable . . . . . . 14 6 Racks, arm, tent (large loop) .. .. .. 20 Spades 2 4 Shovels .. .. .. .. J 2 4 Tents, circular, complete . . . . J 12 23 Marquees .. . . .. .. 2 1 Ropes, picket, 20 yards .. .. .. | 1 5 Brooms, bass .. .. .. .. I 2 4 Screens, latrine . . . . Sheets, ground . . . . .. 12 120 Rakes, iron, 16 in. .. .. .. 2 4 i 2 3 20 20 1 1 20 1 ] 2 20 15 6 * 4 20 2 3 4 1 2 20 20 1 1 20 1 1 20 15 6 20 ■ 2 2 20 2 1 1 20 20 1 1 16 1 1 15 15 2 14 2 2 16 100 4 100 100 I Note. —A battalion of Infantry is allowed two marquees; s Field Ambulances are allowed, each, one marquee and one tent (o squadrons c perating). if Mounted Rifles and