5

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groat credit on their instructors, and on the men themselves. The discipline of the Force while at Trentham was excellent, and I am confident that if circumstances had necessitated its despatch to Samoa it would have performed its duties in a befitting manner. Several of the men have since been selected for service in the Samoa Civil Police. Major N. W. McD. Weir, N.Z. Staff Corps, was in command of the Force, and I desire to place on record the efficient manner in which he carried out his duties. All expenses in connection with this Force were charged against the Department of External Affairs. 6. NEW ZEALAND ARMY RIFLE ASSOCIATION. The eighth annual meeting of the New Zealand Army Rifle Association was held at Trentham from the 11th to the 14th March, 1930, in excellent weather conditions. There was a full muster of competitors, and the meeting proved a thorough success in every way. The programme being similar to that of the 1929 meeting, it was possible accurately to gauge the improvement in shooting made during the year. In the machine-gun and light-automatic matches, especially, the standard reached was remarkably high, and in the rifle matches the average scoring was well above the 1929 level. Praise is due to the units whose representatives achieved success in the teams matches, where skill, intelligence, and endurance count for so much. The " 1930 " Clasp to His Majesty the King's Medal was won by Staff-sergeant J. S. Thomson, N.Z.P.S., who had won the Medal in 1926. The Army Championship Bolt was awarded to Lance-corporal J. M. Carmichael, Ist Battalion, the Hawke's Bay Regiment, and the Cadet Belt to Cadet A. C. Leyland, 4th (Cadet) Battalion, the Wellington West Coast Regiment. 7. RIFLE CLUBS. The number and strength of Rifle Clubs in the Dominion are shown in Appendix I (d), there being three fewer clubs than last year, but an increase in membership of 209. The policy of according certain free grants of ammunition and free railway passes has been continued. The National Rifle Association held its annual rifle meeting at Trentham from the 27th February until sth March, 1930. A cash grant of £1,000, free ammunition, and railway passes for competitors and free use of the rifle ranges at Trentham were, as in previous years, accorded to the Association, and certain officers and N.C.O.s of the New Zealand Permanent Forces assisted in the conduct of the meeting. 8. DEFENCE WORKS.—MOBILIZATION DEPOTS AND TRAINING-CAMPS. Waikato Gamp.—The construction work has now been completed and the buildings have been handed over to this Department. The maintenance of the buildings and the clearing of the property of noxious weeds is being continued to the best advantage. Trentham Camp.—The buildings, roads, &c., in this area have been maintained in good order, and a contract was recently let to paint a number of the buildings. Burnham Gamp. —An ordnance workshop was erected during the year, and the area is being kept in good order. Drill-halls. —-The drill-hall at Blenheim, damaged by fire, has been reconditioned. New offices and storerooms have been provided at Invercargill, and additional storeroom accommodation at Ponsonby and Narrow Neck. Other buildings have been maintained in good order. Rifle Ranges. —These have been maintained in good order. 9. FINANCE. The net expenditure from Consolidated Fund for Defence purposes, including aviation and assistance to Rifle Clubs, for the year ending 31st March, 1930, was £454,828, being a decrease of £9,767 as compared with the previous year, and representing 6s. l*3d. per head of population as against 6s. 3 - Bd. for the previous year. The amount expended on general training and administration was £23,069 less than in the previous year, while the expenditure on aviation was £15,730 greater. During the year it was decided to reduce considerably the reserve of gun ammunition to be held in the country. As a result of this decision the authorized expenditure of £25,000 per annum for reserve and £8,000 per annum for practice has been cancelled and an authority for £5,000 per annum substituted, to provide for both reserve and practice ammunition. The net expenditure from Public Works Fund, vote " Contingent Defence," for the year ended 31st March, 1930, was £46,766, being £20,886 less than in the previous year, and it included £38,819 on construction and development work at Hobsonville Aviation Base. The expenditure per head of population on the combined Defence (Administration, Training, and Aviation) and Contingent Defence (Construction and Works) votes was 6s. 8-Bd., compared with 7s. 2-Bd. the previous year. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, R. Young, Major-General, Commanding N.Z. Military Forces.