H.—l9.

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING NEW ZEALAND MILITARY FORCES.

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

REPORT.

The Hon. the Minister of Defence. Wellington, 30th June, 1931. Sib, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the New Zealand Military Forces for the period Ist June, 1930, to 31st May, 1931 :— 1. N.Z. PERMANENT FORCES. (a) Commands and Staff. Major-General R. Young, C.8., C.M.G, D.5.0., N.Z.S.G, retired on the 31st March, 1931. I succeeded to the command of the New Zealand Military Forces on the Ist April, 1931, retaining the appointment of Chief of the General Staff. Colonel F. Symon, C.M.G., D.5.0., R.N.Z.A., was appointed Officer Commanding the Central Command, and retains the appointment of Director of Artillery at General Headquarters. Colonel J. E. Duigan, D.5.0., N.Z.S.O, was appointed Officer Commanding the Northern Command. Lieutenant-Colonel I. T. Standish, C.M.G., D.5.0., R.N.Z.A., was appointed Adjutant and Quartermaster-General at General Headquarters. Lieutenant-Colonel S. C. P. Nicholls, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C, was appointed Officer Commanding the Southern Command. (b) Offices seconded. Captain K. L. Stewart, M.8.E., N.Z.S.C, was seconded for service with the Ceylon Defence Force for a period of one year, with provision for an extension. (c) Military Education. Lieutenant-Colonel N. W. B. B. Thorns, D.5.0., M.C., N.Z.S.C, completed his course at the Imperial Defence College, but was retired under the provisions of the Finance Act (No. 2) of 1930 immediately afterwards. Captain K. L. Stewart, M.8.E., N.Z.S.C, graduated at the Staff College, Camberley, in December, 1929, and, after a course of instruction in England, returned to New Zealand on the 17th September, 1930. Captain L. G. Goss, N.Z.S.C, graduated at the Staff College, Camberley, in December, 1930. On completion of his attachment to the Regular Army at Home he is due to return to New Zealand in August next. 2nd Lieutenants R. C Queree, F. L. H. Davis, and B. Wicksteed, of the N.Z. Staff Corps, after graduating at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and undergoing a period of training at Home, returned to the Dominion during the year. (d) Cadets. No Cadets were sent during the year to the British Service Colleges for ultimate commissions in the N.Z. Permanent Forces.