9

H.—l9

The present disposition of the seventy-seven officers who left New Zealand for active service is as under :— • Killed in action .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Died on service .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Still on service with Expeditionary Force.. .. .. . . 18 Returned to New Zealand for duty .. .. . . . . . . 47 Returned to New Zealand for retirement .. .. .. . . .. 1 Transferred to Imperial Army .. . . .. .. . . .. 2 77 Those officers who have returned to New Zealand for duty since the Armistice was signed have been posted as far as possible to the districts in which they were stationed prior to proceeding on active service. They have been allowed to retain temporarily the ranks gained by them while serving with the Expeditionary Force. These postings are, however, only temporary. At present there are thirty Cadets under instruction at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, who, as they graduate, will receive, commissions in the New Zealand Staff Corps. New Zealand Permanent Staff. At the outbreak of war the strength of the New Zealand Permanent Staff was 214. Since then only one permanent appointment has been made thereto. To fill the vacancies caused by the departure on active service of members of the Permanent Staff instructors were specially engaged for the duration of the war only. In making these appointments preference was given as far as possible to returned soldiers. The. results achieved by the temporarily appointed members of the New Zealand Permanent Staff have fully justified the formation of this temporary section. Since the Armistice a, considerable number of these temporary instructors have been discharged, and such discharges will increase, as the, permanent warrant officers and non-commissioned officers return from active service. The following table shows the, disposition of the New Zealand Permanent Staff from the outbreak of war to date :— Embarked for active service . , .. .. .. .. .. 110 Retained for duty in New Zealand .. .. .. .. 58 Transferred to Army Ordnance Corps .. .. . . .. .. 3 Discharged .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . . 6 Dismissed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Engagement terminated on return to Imperial Army .. .. .. I Died in New Zealand .. .. .. . . .. . . . . I Resigned . . .. . . . . .. ..... . . 5 215 The present disposition of the 140 who left New Zealand on active service is as under : — Killed in action .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 25 Died of wounds on service .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Died in New Zealand after return . . .. .. . . I Returned to New Zealand on duty and reposted .. .. .. 68 Discharged alter return.. .. .. .. .. .. ..10 Dismissed .. .. ... . . . . .. .. .. 1 Transferred to Imperial Army . . .. .. .. .. ... 1 Engagement with Imperial Army terminated .. .. .. .. 2 Transferred to Army Ordnance Department after return .. .. .. 2 Still serving .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 140 Sixteen warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the New Zealand Permanent Staff have been granted commissions in New Zealand, and twenty have been granted commissions in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, these commissions being subject to adjustment when demobilization is completed. New Zealand Medical Services. There were just sufficient Medical Officers for duty in the Expeditionary Force and camps until the Armistice was signed. As regards the Territorial Force the, same difficulty in finding sufficient whole-time Medical Officers was experienced, but arrangements were made with the local sanitary inspectors to co-operate with the Department as regards the sanitary conditions of the various camps and surroundings. Returning Medical Officers with special training are being retained in the interests of the, sick and wounded. A. semi-permanent Medical Corps has been established for duty in the various military hospitals and convalescent homes. Awapuni Cam.]) was closed on the 14th February, 1919. The training of the Medical Corps is now carried out at Featherston.

2—H. 19.