9

H.—l9

20. New Zealand Permanent Staff. At the outbreak of war the New Zealand Permanent Staff was 214 strong. Since the 4th August, 1914, no permanent appointments have been made to the New Zealand Permanent Staff, all vacancies being filled by temporary instructors who are engaged for the duration of the war. In making the appointments preference as far as possible is given to returned soldiers. The distribution of the New Zealand Permanent Staff is shown as under :— heft New Zealand on active service ... ... ... ... ... 113 Retained on duty in New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 101 Total ... ... ... ... ... 214 The following shows the disposition of the 113 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the New Zealand Permanent Staff who left New Zealand on active service :— Killed in action or died of wounds ... ... ... ... ... 24 Still serving with the Expeditionary Force ... ... ... ... 47 Invalided to New Zealand and now disposed as under : — Reabsorbed in New Zealand Permanent Staff for duty in camps and districts ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Retired on pension and superannuation ... ... ... ... 1 On sick-leave in New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 1 Returned to duty with New Zealand Expeditionary Force ... ... 8 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 113 The disposition of the 101 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the New Zealand Permanent Staff who have been retained on duty in New Zealand is as follows : — Employed at General Headquarters... ... ... ... ... 3 Employed in districts, groups, and areas ... ... ... ... 51 Employed in Expeditionary Force training-camps ... ... ... 47 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 101 The status of those who have been retained for duty in New Zealand is shown as under : — Unfit for active service ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Fit for active service but Second Division ... ... ... ... 64 Fit and under orders to embark ... ... ... ... ... 12 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 101 Eight warrant officers and Staff sergeants-major have been granted honorary commissioned rank, and fourteen have been granted temporary commissioned rank (seven in New Zealand and seven in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force). 21. New Zealand Medical Services. There have been sufficient Medical Officers for duty in the Expeditionary Force camps during the year, as medical practitioners throughout the country have loyally come forward when required, and have performed most excellent work, often of a very strenuous character. As regards the Territorial camps, there has been some difficulty occasionally in finding Medical Officers to train with the combatant units, but at any rate Medical Officers have always been forthcoming to supervise the health and treat the sick in the camps. The sanitation of the camps has been excellent, arrangements having been made by which the military Medical Officers and the local Sanitary Inspectors co-operate as regards the sanitary conditions of the various camps and their surroundings. All the Field Ambulance units and a certain number of Territorial regimental medical establishments have this year undergone training at the Expeditionary Force medical trainingcamp at Awapuni, with the result that a high standard of efficiency has been attained. The Awapuni Camp has been equipped with the latest-pattern horse ambulance, water-purification cart, and general-service wagons, as well as with the newest War Office Field Ambulance medical and surgical equipment, so that the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men have been able to familiarize themselves with such equipment as they will be required to use both in France and Egypt. Classes have been arranged in connection with the large camp hospitals where men of the N.Z.M.C. are trained in sick-nursing in the wards, lectures and demonstrations being given by the Medical Officers and the Sisters. The Officers' Training Corps (Medical) of the Otago University has made an excellent start, with a strength at first of about 130 Cadets, but which owing to the war has since been reduced to eighty. These Cadet officers have already reached a most creditable standard of efficiency, twenty-eight out of thirty-six who presented themselves for the "A" certificate examination having passed and gained certificates. A Defence Medical Stores has been established in Buckle Street. From these stores drugs and medical and surgical appliances are issued to the various camps, convalescent homes, hospital ships and transports, resulting in a great saving of money and an increase in efficiency. The Expeditionary Force camps are now provided with up-to-date hospitals for the treatment of both general and infectious diseases. A bacteriological laboratory is established in each camp under experienced bacteriologists, with a view to detecting and isolating cases of

2—H. 19.