H.—l9

1938. NEW ZEALAND.

MILITARY FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF.

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

REPORT. The Hon. the Minister of Defence. Wellington, 30th June, 1938. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the New Zealand Military Forces for the period Ist June, 1937, to 31st May, 1938. 1. GENERAL REMARKS. A great deal has been achieved during the past year to improve the defence system, whilst other important measures are now under consideration. The following is a summary of the most important measures approved : — 1. (a) The setting-up of a Defence Council. (b) A Chiefs of Staff Committee. (c) An Army Board. 2. The strengthening of our defended ports. 3. The formation and training of a Special Reserve. 4. Motorization of the Territorial Force for camp and week-end training. 5. The mechanization of the Field Artillery brigades (not yet complete). 6. Mechanization of the Infantry commenced. 7. Restoration of area rifle meetings. 8. Restoration of the Regimental Funds grant. 9. Establishing of an Army and three District Schools of Instruction. 10. Introduction of films for instruction. 11. Leave for twelve working-days on full pay for public servants who join the Territorial Force. 12. Publicity recruiting campaign. 13. Provision for modern armament and equipment, 14. Walking-out uniform —blue (previously the Territorial had one only —khaki). 15. Pay and rations for twenty days annually instead of twelve days. 16. Provision of motor-transport pool for each district to assist training. 17. Promotion of Regular officers overdue for promotion. 18. Revision and increase of pay for the Regular Forces. Although the above measures that apply were not approved sufficiently early to stimulate interest prior to the annual camps or to increase actual attendances at camps and week-end training, definite progress has been made during the past year. A vigorous publicity campaign is assisting recruiting and stimulating public interest, and the recruits now coming forward are of a good type and physique. An analysis of the Territorial system in England and Australia, which is similar to our own, leads me to the conclusion that it would be over-optimistic to expect more than 9,000 men of the right type to fill the ranks of our organization in peace under a system of voluntary enlistment. The units constituting a Mounted Brigade and an Infantry Division have been provided for in the organization, and can be expanded to their war establishment should a national emergency necessitate this action. The Staff have been concentrating on the training of the leaders to allow this expansion to take place, and satisfactory progress has been made. If the Force is to reach a reasonable degree of efficiency, the gaps in the ranks of units must be filled and attendances at annual camps reach a high percentage of the numbers provided for.