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1924. NEW ZEALAND.

DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND. REPORT OF THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE FORCES FOR THE PERIOD 1st JUNE, 1923, TO 31st MAY, 1924.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

KEPOET. To the Hon. the Minister of Defence. Sir,— Wellington, 7th July, 1924. I have the honour to submit herewith the following report on the Defence Forces covering the period Ist June, 1923, to 31st May, 1924 :— 1. Commands and Stafp. (a.) Change of Command. Major-General Sir E. W. C. Chaytor, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., C.8., relinquished the appointment of General Officer Commanding, New Zealand Military Forces, as from the Ist April, 1924, on which date I assumed command. (b.) Staff Organization. During the year several important changes have been effected in the staff at General Headquarters. From the Ist January, 1924, the heads of the three branches of the staff at General Headquarters were redesignated : Chief of the General Staff, Adjutant-General, and Quartermaster-General. The resumption of the above designations was necessary in order that our staff organization should bo uniform with that of the War Office, all British Forces at Home, and in the other oversea dominions. It also provides for greater decentralization, a clearer definition of duties, and a more expeditious and economical method of working. Colonel 0. G. Powles, C.M.G., D.5.0., A.D.C., relinquished the appointment of Chief of the General Staff and assumed command of the Central Military Command as from the Ist April, 1924. Lieut.-Colonel W. L. H. Burgess, C.8., C.M.G.', D.5.0., was appointed Chief of the General Staff, with the temporary rank of Colonel while so employed, as from the Ist April, 1924. This officer also temporarily carries out the duties of Director of Military Training and Intelligence. (c.) Staff College. Major R. Miles, D.5.0., M.C., R.N.Z.A., entered the Staff College, Camberley, at the beginning of 1924, and will undergo a two-years course. Major W. I. K. Jennings, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C, will be proceeding to the Staff College at the end of the present year. 2. Permanent Forces. I desire to bring to notice the good work that has been done by. all ranks of the Permanent Forces. The universal and constant development of military science and armament, the reduced personnel of the Permanent Forces, and the limited period of training in the Citizen Forces render it imperative that each officer and non-commissioned officer of the Permanent Forces shall be an export in his own particular line. If the New Zealand Military Forces are to be efficient when an emergency arises it is essential that all ranks of the Permanent Forces shall not only be thoroughly competent and up to date in peace training, but shall be capable of taking a higher position when the Forces are expanded on mobilization. Notwithstanding the very difficult period through which the whole of the Defence Forces are passing, and increasing pressure of work which has devolved upon all ranks of the Permanent

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