H.—l9d

10

Paoe 37. 63. Shortcomings in camps due, to too much, nursing of Camp Commandants and, other officers. The Camp Commandants have a very free hand in the control of their camps. There are certain matters, however, which cannot be left in their hands— e.g., enlistment, discharge, and transfer of personnel. Such matters as these require co-ordination'throughout the Dominion. Page 37. 64. Lack of application of true, principles of organization. The adverse criticism of the camps on I he ground of "lack of application of the principles of organization " is considered to be unwarranted in view of the smoothness with which the camps have run, the conditions existing therein, and the results achieved. The camps were organized without previous experience in the Dominion, and, for the greater part, the staff was created from untrained officers and men. The Commission have apparently found no waste of public money, of food, or of materials in the camps. If the " true principles of organization " had been so disregarded, could such results have been achieved? With the exception of the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis in 1915, the camps have never been a source of anxiety or even of trouble. Paoe 37. 05. Training-period in New Zealand could, be reduced, by one-fourth. Vide 73. Page 39. Vide 104. Page 54. Page 37. 00. Drafts from New Zealand are not fully or uniformly trained. The evidence brought before the Commission that the standard of the Reinforcements on arrival in the United Kingdom " generally was found to be good " is full confirmation of the correctness of the policy of the Defence Department. It is true that men have been embarked short-trained on various occasions during the war, owing to the necessity of filling ships, combined with shortages of drafts on mobilization, or caused by sickness. Reports received from General Richardson and other responsible officers in regard to all drafts despatched from New Zealand during the past ten months have been uniformly most satisfactory. Page 38. til .Difficult to think the camps satisfactorily conducted when bi-weekly visits from an officer at General Headquarters necessary. Frequent visits to the camps are necessary, not in order to interfere with the Camp Commandants and Chief Instructors, but to maintain that, "full intimate knowledge" which the Commissioners themselves consider so necessary for the Officer at General Headquarters dealing with the camps to have (vide 0. Page 7). The Chief of the General Stall does not personally look after everything done, more than is necessary for him to keep in touch with what is going on. Page 38. 08. Camp Commandants have, no responsibility for training, and their time is occupied in comparatively 'unimportant work. The Camp Commandants have always been responsible that training was properly carried out on the programme laid down by General Headquarters. Standing Orders have, however, been amended so as to define the responsibility more clearly in this respect. Page 38. 09. // troubles and difficulties arise in the camps there is probability of trouble, through 'division of control and vagueness of responsibility. Any possibility of vagueness of responsibility has been removed by orders already issued which clearly define the Camp Commandant's responsibility. These orders will be included in the new edition of Camp Standing Orders, which has been in press for some time and which is shortly to be issued. Page 38. 70. At Sling Gamp Instructors are clianged every six months. The importance of constant fresh Instructors at Sling is fully recognized and acknowledged. There the detail of modern fighting is taught. The latest, lessons of the trenches are essential. In New Zealand the training is on broad lines, the principles and even the methods of which have changed little since the war began. Drill, musketry, and discipline remain the same. Bayonet fighting alone has altered much, and for instruction in this subject experts have been obtained. Although there is not, therefore, the same need for constant change in the staff of the recruit camps of New Zealand as in the more advanced training-camps of the United Kingdom and France, constant drafts of assistant Instructors from Imperial schools are periodically obtained. Page 38. 71. The system of camp administration too centralized and expensive. Vide 127. Page 04. Page 39. 72. Officers in high, positions in New Zealand do not fully understand the difference between going to France and, going into the firing-line. The Staff in New Zealand arc fully aware that men are sent from the United Kingdom to Etaples for further training.