Defence Forces.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1922, Page 1

Defence Forces.

REDUCED EXPENDITURE AND DRASTIC CUTS. WELLINGTON, Sept. 7 The annual report on the Defence Forces of New Zealand by the General Officer Commanding (General Sir E. W. C. Chaytor) was presented to Parliament to-day. The report points out that the necessity for reduced expenditure called for very drastic cuts wherever possible. Among these was the ■ discharge of most of the temporary personnel, the closing of the School of Instruction, the cancellation of th: authority for camps of refresher courses for aviation and of the Dominion Military and Rifle Association Meetings for ifi22. The result was that the saving of .£107,000 per annum provided for, was slightly more than expected, but the Department has been tmucli criticised. The vote for Defence and Aviation was to he limited to £50.000, which necessitated a complete revision of the existing scheme. The reduction of the present forces and civil staff to a strength of approximately 100 officers and 400 other ranks has been carried out, also the reduction in the strength of the territorial force by allowing rainees to be posted to the reserve after four years’ efficient training, two of which mav be in the cadets. REDUCTION OF STAFF.

The decision to reduce the Defence vote to £350,000 necessitated the reduction of the permanent personnel by over one-third, among those retired !x;ing many highly qualified officers, warrant officers, and non-commission-ed officers with excellent records of service, both in New Zealand and in the field ; also the thirteen staff cadets at the Royal Military College in Australia.

The personnel of the staff corps, the permanent staff, and the Royal New Zealand Artillery is now less than half of that maintained prior to the war, and obviously cannot carry out the same amount of work as the prewar staff, but by economising work Inclosing all obsoiete defence by abandoning the attempt to keep touch, with those trainees posted’ to the noneffective list, by reducing the number of comnulsory parades, and by consolidating the training as much as possblc, it is hoped that training can be continued at all but the very small '"’exchange OF OFFICERS Approval has now been obtained for the yearly exchange for periods of two years of one Xc\v Zealand staff corps officer with an officer of equal standing in the regular army, and application has been made in increase the number ol officers to three', so that all ’ New Zealand officers will bo able to obtain experience in regimental duties and the New Zealand forces kept up to date in the latest developments of military training. It is hoped also to exchange one or more non-commissioned officers of the permanent forces for periods of one year. It is intended to send an officer to the staff college for the course commencing in 1024. There, are now no lfritish Army (Oncers on loan to New Zealand. Ihe five staff corps officers attached to units in India returned in January last after obtaining valuable experience including some active service on the north-west frontier. It is not intended • to send any more officers for similar attached courses, or to obtain any more officers on loan, except in an exceptional case, where too st‘ivices of a specially qualified officer who can not he obtained on exchange are required. THE TERRITORIAL FORCE.

The strength of the citizen forces in June last !«ns 1098 officers and 42.949 oilier ranks. Dealing with the Territorial. Force organisation, the (1.0. C. says: “The experience of the late war showed that the average New Zealander, if pliysicaly lit-, can soon trained sufficiently to take his place in the ranks of a unit that has officers and non-commissioned offiodils ’capable of completing bis instruction, but that officers and non-coms, require a much longer and more l through traiuing, also that any weakness in a unit was invariably due to lack ol propel K tritined Officers and non-commission-ed officers. Tile aim of the Department is that the system of training shall be such ns will develop the physique and the intelligence of the trainee and improve him for civil life as well as prepare him to defend his country. This will he gradually progressive throughout the period of compulsory training and can be carried out with the least inconvenience to the trainee or to his employer. In cadet training special mention is given to the development of physique, alertness ol mind, and body, knou ledge of personal hygiene, habits ol punctuality, tidiness, and respect for authority—all important attributes of good citizenship. THIS YEAR’S TRAINING.

“The closing of the school of in-, struetion has been a severe blow to the efficiency of the Territorial Force and Cadets, and it is hoped that the* school may be reopened as soon as financial conditions will permit. This year’s ■ training will consist of 12 half-day parades and 20 drills, which in the case of cadets in country districts will bo consolidated into six whole day parades. Some Territorial units are arranging to consolidate most of ’their training in a sipnlar manner, and it is hoped that the procedure will bo generally adopted as it will give greater efficiency ami prove more satisfactory, both to trainees and their employers. In the case of* mounted units the training should be in camp. A saving of £50,000 per annum is being effected in small arms ammunition.”