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the vital need for supporting its continuance not only to directly aid in the present war, but also to ensure a successful Defence Force for the future. Already the Territorial Force has supplied the Expeditionary Force with some thousand officers, and well over its total original strength of thirty thousand other ranks. In addition, it is still at a strength of twenty-nine thousand, some eight thousand of whom annually pass into the Expeditionary Force on arrival at the age of twenty years. Last training-year alone some five hundred officers and fourteen thousand men left the Territorial Force for service at the front. Had Territorial training been suspended in 1914 these officers and other ranks would have been deficient of three years of military training, a training which aims at both defeating the enemy and saving the lives of our own soldiers. The fact that the Territorial Force, in spite of the heavy drain upon its resources, is still practically up to strength is due to the continued good work of the Cadet Force. In this Force Cadets receive progressive training in elementary subjects, and enter the Territorial Force at, eighteen years of age well equipped for the higher training received in that Force. The abolition of this system of training in 1914 would have meant an irredeemable loss to the Dominion of some, forty-five thousand Territorials and over fifty thousand Cadets of an invaluable degree of military efficiency at a time when such training is of priceless worth. 18. Instructional Staff and Officers of Territorial and Cadet Forces. The greatest possible credit is due to the instructional staff and those officers of the Territorial and Cadet Forces, to whose enthusiasm and efficiency tho success attained has been chiefly due. Owing to the severe shortage of experienced instructors many unit officers have performed' the work formerly done by three or four times their number. This has been done at a considerable selfsacrifice, and the greatest credit is due to those who, notwithstanding unique and gigantic difficulties and even hostile criticism, have helped a depleted stall to maintain the strength and efficiency of the Territorial and Cadet Forces. Particular credit must be given to those members of the instructional staff who have returned from service at the front, and who have contributed in the fullest degree towards this efficiency. Tho efficiency and discipline inculcated in the ranks of the Cadet and Territorial Forces are directly contributary to the results obtained in the Expeditionary Force camps, and the splendid name created by the New Zealand. Forces in the field. 19. Harbour Defences. An officer has recently been appointed as Inspector of Coast Defences, and has just completed a first inspection. The guns, lights, communications, and other adjuncts existing in the coast defences are well cared for and ready for use. Owing to the withdrawal of most of the trained personnel of the Royal Now Zealand Artillery it has been difficult to maintain the defences in this state, and credit is due to those concerned who by working long hours have succeeded in doing so. Again, a large number of men from the Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) have gone to the Expeditionary Force, and their numbers have been made up in larger postings of Cadets. During the year the usual weekly drills have been carried out, and a certain number of wholeday or half-day parades. It is proposed this year to hold training-camps for Garrison Artillery early in the year, so as to render the new postings efficient as early as possible. 20. Train ing-year 1918-19. During the present training-year particular attention is being paid to the instruction of officers and N.C.O.s of the Cadet and Territorial Forces, particularly those of the secondary schools. The importance of providing suitable instruction for the officer and N.C.O. cannot be exaggerated ; upon their present and future efficiency depends that of the Cadet and Territorial Force. It is hoped to hold courses of instruction for the officer and N.C.0., and barracks at many of the large secondary sohools. All training will consist of work which will be valuable to those ultimately joining the Expeditionary Force, and which will help towards tho better efficiency of the Defence Force of the future. SECTION IL—THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL TO THE FORCES. 21. Royal New Zealand Artillery. The establishment of officers for the Royal New Zealand Artillery is fourteen, and in accordance with the latest Army List the strength is twenty, who are distributed as follows : Fifteen on. active service, one seconded for duty as Officer Commanding Wellington Military District; leaving four on regimental duty, these latter being stationed with the R.N.Z.A. detachments throughout New Zealand. The establishment of the regiment, other than officers, is 293, and the strength is 280. At present, in addition to officers mentioned above, 164 non-commissioned officers and men are seconded from the, regiment for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Those remaining, with few exceptions (who are mostly under orders), are N.C.O.s and men who arc over age, medically unfit, or returned soldiers. The difficulty of carrying on the highly technical duties with a greatly reduced trained personnel has been very great, as some of these duties include the working and care of range-finders, electriclight engines (both steam and internal-combustion), to say nothing of the very intricate mechanism of a number of modern guns.