Defence Forces of New Zealand

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 August 1916, Page 3

Defence Forces of New Zealand

RJiI'ORT TO l'AßlriA--UJiNT. Department oi Defence Headquarters Office, Wellington, 31st May, 1916. ' i have the honour herewith to submit the annual report, on the Defence 1 Forces. Xα xeport covers the period form the date of last year's report to dote. The early meeting of Parliament renders it impossible to supply complete returns and comparisons, the military training year, not closing until the 31st May, with possible extension this year into June. The work of the Department has steadily increased. Additional units ha.ve been added to the original lixpediitionary Force, and continual and ample reinforcements have been regularly despatched without a hitch or serious accident. This is more creditable owing to the fact that the Department, in the absence of imaval administration, assumed tlie function of fitting, equipping and maintaining n regular troop transport system from this the most remote dominion of the j Empire. It is satisfactory to know : that the new units and reinforcements have met with general approval by the Army Council amdi the Imperial Training Staff at the base in Jigypt as -e- ! gards their physique and traiming. As a natural result of active service abroad sick and wounded invalided j soldiers have been regularity returning to the Dominion. The arran^f , - mouts for their reception and' care hrrvrr been carefully and well carried n>l by tho Defence Medical Service find Public Health Departments working in conjunction. Concurrently with the strain of training and forwarding regular n-in-forcements, the Territorial or lioinodel'ence training system has been carried out. Without the Territorial system adopted: by Parliament in 1909 it is certain that the Expeditionary Force despatched to Samoa, the Main Force and the Reinforcements could not have been eo efficiently and expediitioiisly despatched and maintained. It is to the credit of the commercial, pastoral and farming industries of the dominion that, despite the strain of enlistment for service 'abroad, they have so well supported the aimiiol training of the Territorial forces during .this time of stress. The discipline at fTiese Territorial training camps has been very good indeed. During the past year a Minister of Supplies and Munitions, with a Board of Advice, has been appointed with very satisfactory results in the co-ordi-nation of manufactures and supplies throughout the Dominion, thus ensur- i I iiiy: improvements and sufficiency of equipment to meet urgent military demands. The Dominion has been most fortunate in securing the services of Sur-geon-General I?. S. Henderson. M.8.. K.H.P.. as Direetor-Cfenenal of Medici'« Services to organize the medical services, and this has been carried out with excellent results The establishment of :\ Dischar-jid Soldiers' Employment Tltironn under the Attorney-Genera! is proving of great advantage to the soldier and. relief to the Defence Deportment :: !"l--i the soldier is d : sclinrgeii. The amount expended in l;i-i .»> . • vote is due principally to the i';ict tiiat tl'O Expeditionary Force has first will on supplies and equipment, thus to a certain extent tlie Territorial Force has had to go short. During the year the steady development has taken place in the organizatior and administration of the defence scheme: the recommendations by the Inspector-General, Overseas Dominions, have now been practically introduced. Reports by the three branches of defence headquarters contain detail in this respect. 1 specialty desire to bring to your notice the excellent amd continued devotion to duty displayed by the Chief of the General Staff, and all ranks of the Defence Department, both military, civil and temporary, lncjudiug such important sections as the Supply Hoard of Advice, Transport iioard, llase Records, War Accounts Uratuii, Shipping, Embarkation and Disembu •- putioii Staffs, Camp and .liarrack Construction, etc., in which are lnutuy capable and voluntary workers. Tho mutual harmonious co-operation existing between all sections wholly accounte for the efficient manner in which the present strenuous duties are carried out..

'Hie officers in temporary command ol' the four military districts ar 3 deserving of great consideration for the manner in which tiiey nave administered their command. The Dominion is also fortiinafe in having two excellent officers to command at Trenthnni and Feathers ton training camps, with very efficient and capable training stuffs.—J. hnve, etc. A. AV, ROBIN, Brigadier-General. Commanding New Zealand Military Foroee.