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Army Education Welfare Service The Armv educational and welfare services have been maintained throughout New Zealand. The main formal educational function of the Service remains the general education of Regular Force Cadets and coaching Regular non-commissioned officers for their promotion examinations. During the year, the wartime practice of committees, largely comprised of civilians prominent in the educational field, to advise the Services on educational matters was revived. Services Educational Advisory Committees have been established in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Rationing In order to improve the standard of messing throughout the Army, a new ration scale has been introduced. This scale permits a wider choice of commodities and allows more scope in the planning of a soldier's meals. At the same time there has been an intensified training programme for officers and non-commissioned officers concerned with messing, catering, and cooking. Despite enlistments in the United Kingdom and constant recruiting efforts in this country, the growth of the Catering Group is slow and its strength is still far below requirements. In particular, more mess stewards and kitchen hands are needed. The number of cooks is slowly improving, and it is hoped shortly to obtain suitable personnel to fill appointments as Catering Officers. Accommodation It is important that the Territorial recruits should have adequate barrack accommodation during their initial training period of fourteen weeks in camp. The existing camps at Papakura, in the Northern Military District, and Burnham, in the Southern Military District, are satisfactory for this purpose. The Central Military District camp at Linton falls short of requirements. It was built during the war like the other camps, though a little later and on a different plan. There are good administrative buildings, but no proper barrack rooms. During the war the troops were accommodated in four- and eight-men huts and in tents. The huts are now in a bad state of repair, and it is inadvisable to put eighteen-year-old youths in tents for a period of three months in the middle of winter. It was intended to build barrack rooms at Linton, but for various reasons this proposal was cancelled in favour of renovating the huts. This work is being undertaken by the Engineer Construction Squadron, and should be completed in time for the first intake of recruits. The renovated huts at Linton cannot be regarded as permanent accommodation for Territorial recruits and it will soon be necessary to build proper barracks for these troops. A plan is under consideration for Waiouru to become the Central Military District camp, as well as the location for the various Army Schools and field training area of the Army. Housing for the regular staff at isolated camps and stations is most inadequate. Many officers and other ranks, by reason of their appointment, are separated from their families, and in consequence their efficiency and morale suffer. The plan to transfer further Army activities to Waiouru is dependent on an extensive housing programme for the Regular staff of the camp. It is submitted that Army housing should be regarded as part of the national housing scheme, as every house erected at an Army camp should release a house at some other location. Ordnance A large quantity of general and technical stores, weapons, ammunition and many Vehicles have been overhauled, inspected, repaired where necessary, and distributed

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