DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 6 July 1912, Page 3

DEFENCE.

MAJOR-GENERAL GODLEY'S REPORT. THE .NEW SCHEME. PROGRESS UP TO DATE. Tho report on tho Now Zealand Defence Forces by the Commandant "(Mnjor-Gen-eral.A.-J. Godley) was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by the Minister f<* - Defence. As the period under review has been one of the initiation of tho scheme and the training has been entirely of an elementary nature and practically confined to recruits, Major-General Godley states he' has not reported ou ttie efficiency of tho forces to take the field, but hopes to do so year. Tho present strength of the New Zealand stall corps is Gli, and it is not proposed to fill the establishment of 100 except by taking officers from the Royal Australian Military College. The permanent forces will consist of 100 officers,'2oo non-commissioned officers, and 303 officers' and men of the Rotal New Zealand Artillery, 60 that in the establishment of tho Territorial Forco.of 30,000 there will be one permanent officer, noncommissioned officer, or man to every fifty Territorials. Camps of Training, All units of tho Territorial Forces have completed their annual training of seven days in camp, fifty-six camps having been held. A total of 17,831 officers and men did the week's training. Particulars of the attendances at camps, according to military districts, are shown in tho following table :- ( Auck- Canter- Wqllingland. bury. Otago. ton. Attended camp 4344 4531 3608 ■ 5346 Absent with leavo 287 179 232 141 Absent without leave ... 405 . 72J . 247 301 .Unaccounted, for 311 322 201 366 Total strength 5349 5755 4291 6210 To complete the total establishment of 31,273 the following additions arc required : Auckland, 2385 (establishment 7734); Canterbury, 1793 (7553); Otago, 2992 (7283); Wellington, 2184, totals'96s9 (31,273). The attendance at camps averaged 82.49 per cent.; those who were absent with, leave, including sick, 3.90 per cent.; absent without lcavo 8.04 per cent.; unaccounted for owing to change of residence or other unknown cause, 5.57 per cent. The attendance at parades and drills has been pood,'especially so in; the country districts,'except in the case of senior cadets in certain towns. Experience Teaches.

"The experience gained during the past year shows that in this, as in all other countries in the world, the late autumn, is, as a rule, the most suitable time for holding the.annual camps, which should be the climax of the training season. Considerable latitude was given last year to commanding officers in choosing the dates of • their camps, as it was realised that wo were of necessity in an experimental stage, nnd that we must gain our experience in that way. "The advantages of holding the camps during the late autumn are that the harvest is over, the milking season is drawing near its slackest time, the end of the financial year has been passed, and the greatest part of the military year has been available for putting : in the required number of drills and parades, which, in a proper scheme of progressive training, must all precedo the annual'camp. The only disadvantage is that ■ the days are shorter and tho weather probably colder and wetter than in the summer,'but this is a disadvantage common- to -autumn camps and- manoeuvres in all countries, and cannot bo helped. "May is, however, the latest month in which camps can be held. After that, not only does it become 100 cold and wet, hut it is not possible to further postpone tho posting and beginning of the training of the quota of recruits for the following year. Arrangements will therefore probably be made for'next year's Artillery, Engineers -and Infantry Brigade camps to be held during March and April, and for the Mounted Brigade camps'in April and Jlay, the latter being put last because they contain, tho .largest, proportion of men enga'gcd'in the farming and dairying industries. Should tho harvest bo early, it may.be possible to.hold them earlier.

What Might Oe Done.

It will bo a matter for consideration in the future wnether it may not be moro convenient to employers and farmers, and to thoso who have to bo trained in tho Territorial Force, if the number of annual parades and drills were definitely reduced by regulation, nnd the number of days in camp increased jnstead. The rates of pay for camp would probably have to be proportionately reduced. This course might enable a portion of the musketry practice of country units to be done during tho period of cami,, -wherti convenient, and would, I think, result in greater efficiency generally. II is the general experience in tho training of citizen troops that it is after the first week that the benefits of the training really begin to show, and thore is no question but that much moro can bo done in camp than at individual parades and drills. The extra expense involved would bo met, to a great extent, by tho reduction in tho travelling expenses of instructors, consequent on tho diminution of tho parades and drills at local drill centres. I propose in tho near future to consult employers of labour, farmers, etc., on this subject, and to work out tho details as regards expenditure. I shall then be in a position to report to yon moro definitely on the question. i . . . , "In any case, I wish to make it clear that' I do' not propose to' recommend any increase in the amount of training. Tho suggestion is only that a variation of the scale may bo found advisable. "Further,' I am strongly of opinion that no question of expediency, of" difficulties, or of expense within reasonable limits, should bo allowed to prevent the excellent material for soldiers which exists in tho country districts from being available for service in Territorial units. Our aim must be to train, in properly organised bodies, an efficient field army composed of tho best, material available, ■ a very different proposition to merely teaching drill and shooting to those' young men who can bo Teached or collected at n minimum of inconvenience and expense." The Cadets. "It ia very necessary that the training of tho boy should be continuous and under the same authority from the time he commences his oadet training at the age of twelve.till he ceases it on joining tho Territorial Force at tho ago of eighteen. There has been a tendency for the junior cadefa under tho Education Department, tho senior cadets under the Defence Department, and • the boy soouts independently of eithor Department, to pull in difforent directions. With this object I have mado recommendations, to which I hope effect will bo given, for tho unification. ■ of all methods of boys' training. I am very strongly of opinion that up to tho age of fourteen the training should be chiefly only in physical drill, and should be of a non-militiry character. It is quite time enough for a boy to embark on his military career ftt the age of fourteen. I think tho boy soout methods may bo adopted in great moasuro in tho training of both unior and senior cadets, and hare givon instructions that they shall bo as far as tho latter are concerned." Rifle Ranges.

"Thero aro somo 2G7 ranges in the Dominion, and out of these over 200.are held on sufferance or payment of rent (about £300 per annum). Tho question of acquiring most of these ranges must bo faced. On last year's estimates .£IO,OOO was sot aside for this purpose, but only .£6OO ivns expended. All recommendations for the taking-over of land under the Public Works Act, and for repairs and upkeep sent in by Officers Commanding Districts, have been carried out, hut, owing to pressure of work in connection with the initiation of the training, it has not been possible (o give this question as much consideration as 1 should havo lilted. It will be taken in hand forthwith, and. ti.s in Ilio case of the drill-halls, we must try and acquire Hie rifle ranges by degrees."