DEFENCE FORCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1923, Page 3

DEFENCE FORCES.

COMMANDING OEUK ER'S KEI’DKT. WELLINGTON, Aug lib ’’The present slate ol the New /salitlid delonee forces is not satisi.i -tom except that they have imw : n . . r.nisation based on war c.xp.’i’i.’ii' ■’. Gu.t a large number ol oilueis and ic-u-oi.n-IllissioiU'd eliicet's Wilt) served hi the late war would be available on mobilisatiiiu a lid that, unlike the position in PJI 1. the necessary guns and rqiit >- metil are available." This is a survey ol tlie delete >• position by Major-General ( linytcr. ollitvr commanding the New Zealand- forces, in bis annual report to tile .Minister ol Defence. lie goo- on to sny that officers and imii-iolnmisMnlh'd oil'll ers with war service are an asset rapidly decreasing, by reason of age and increasing family responsibilities, and it is essential that others he trained ft replace them. New Zealand i- going through the n-u.il aiml'-war stage w It-a the public, a I re.■ ly lorget ting that bo •> of preparation lots proved very 1 c-tL • I- anxious to retime the burden left "> the wnr he cutting do" n it - mil mmd insurantc. Ettammy >- tiinluithtettly essential. though savings at the expense i ; | effirieiii y do not ( on.-lilulc ft onomy. bill the reverse. , General (laiytor rider- to Ine m’tcssily of Kin! mil co-operation oi the mi- j lions of the Empire for deb-nee- and j (let lares that there is net’ll lor an ad”'/'' , ment for mutual co-opt’! at mu m " men j the liability undertaken by each Mate t> eleni'lv defined. Xu Slat" tan accept assistance from another unle-s n art ''l'D an coni Villen t olilignt ion. The .report refers to the urk.sh crisis in September, l'J22. and 1!l splendid response to liir call for recruits. An analysis of registrations, however, shows the necessity tor trninim( voting men who are coming of n._t lor service, since sixty tier rent. ol Ilmsc who registered were too .voting to have served in the late war. Refercnre is mode to the purchase tit t l r . xto ’kburit aerodrome. ( linsteluitHi. now' renamed the Wigrant aerodrome Other aerodromes required m t 11 »< ’ future, says the report, are one at n j „ear Auckland for both laud and ** l j ..lane- and. later on. otic near M> tIjj ~IM I for land and sea tdatu--. i " -STRENGTH OK I' OIK- Em The strength of citizen tone- «> June With. Wits 38,01 L including VU,..dicers. These cemprl-eil : - Air I’ on e Reserve . ■ ' ; | Territorial Force . . 1 .’Ll’’ Then’ were also 5!2P members oi * ( !nl - and 10.810 on the n.-oile d n list. The Tentorial fore.’ ha- -u ret from curtailment m .mining ami In 1,,.,, t,, reopen the school ot ntstrtud ton. - weU as front that training for the year IBS -2 I Muml 1 ( 1 ) Eleven days' annual trainit. .. ,p. exclusive of davs of arr.va nut departure: bmr balrolay parades »■ units drawn from cities or ‘ _ where httine training can b> ’' Ul ' ■ torilv carried „ut will substitute It. I half-<h.y parades and iwr vc tin > , .1, , r,,st Jive (lavs lit tamp. » u ' u .\ lint.,trial position has improved nay "> 1:; , given for tlie period m >■)». >• hut free rations and quartet-

provided. |.-\ ENCOERAOER. 1. i W'oposed in >-,e, ; non w,| - ..life eluhs. wiiieh the repot t stat.would he of great value lor | ‘^,l f 1,.,t effective memhets - tw— » T'YfCe-mlmllJolJ'amU'ketrv ; , v granting the free issu- ot KM r l ' av“l Vl'off 'tlv! numbers who tire the musketry course and to other men,he. s who s " rV( "' miuVary depots. A site I l ’ l ' the northern *»t-liVi* l ..V'fr'iin in oxehange t):,- Lm.tl r f’; U^X;tuy 1 thJ wm-k°a! Trintham' and Burnham ha> l'een dehiyetl. Uc of moluhsation depots at all l 4 I : ,M h pm;’ n ;m"!drex;..uußi>'re m this k NS“E,:;Y:i:iS,s:i7'a> -k onotiiieal to have permanent deUI ' U {|TO vqiiiumeut in tetn,nl'"...Vl'iiililitu's. where serious risk ipo,i . " through lire. Plan* tl,l> run of loss tm r- orovule tor bS”« t'o'relieve' the present eongesletl niagazhii to be utilised for navil purpo-es.