The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY,. AUGUST 11, 1926. DEFENCE MATTERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY,. AUGUST 11, 1926. DEFENCE MATTERS.

The Defence report sets out that in order that the military forces may be brought fully up to date with the other land forces of the Empire, it will be necessary to adopt new armaments and equipments. Important schemes have been drawn in this connection. Such briefly sums up the development which is taking place in regard to the New Zealand forces, as suggested by; statements appearing in the annual report of the General Officer Commanding which was presented last week to Parliament. The report states that the strength of the permanent side of the air services now stands at four 'officers and fourteen other ranks; and of, the territorial force at IC6"officers. Refresher courses for the territorials have been held and proved successful. Six

Avro (lamlplane) training machines and two Bristol fighters have been added during the year. It-is proposed to purchase three Bristol fighters, making it complete fighting unit of five machines. The force has undertaken several air surveys for local bodies, and has completed the survey of the Wainiakariri River. The survey of the Southern Fiord Districts will probably bo undertaken during the year. An air base of 167} acres has been acquired at Hobsonvilie, Auckland, the total strength of the New Zealand Permanent Force is now 104 officers and 411 men. Of the territorial forces flio officers number 821 and other ranks 21,218, or a total of 22,039, an increase of 2022, or 10 per cent. Of the cadets there are 439 officers and 28.330 other ranks, or a total of 28,769, ail increase of 2675, or 10 per cent. The defence rifle clubs number 156 'officers and 4748 of other ranks. In the artillery two 5-ton tractors have been added during the year. Dealing with the question of the War Accounts; the General Officer Commanding states that the Commonwealth Government lias agreed to pay the New Zealand Government the sum of £45,000 in settlement of all outstanding war transactions between the two forces operating in Egypt. He also states that the short period of service docs not permit a more satisfactory standard of individual efficiency to be attained in regard to military training, and that as the population is steadily growing it is becoming more difficult each year to clothe, equip, and train nil those liable for military service on the money voted l>v Parliament for the purpose. “The present mobilisation, equipment, and armament is complete and in good order,” he concludes. “It was inevitable, however, that after the experience of the Great War, very considerable changes and developments would he necessary in the design, nature, and power of modern equipment. The present is a very important and also difficult period, in that after exhaustive experiments and trials, certain new armaments and equipments have to bo adopted in order that the military forces may he brought fully up to date with the other land forces of the Empire. These additions have been carefully considered, and schemes drawn and provisions made for acquiring a war reserve of modern ammunition, and certain chemical warfare and anti-gas equipment. A scheme based on recommendations recently received from the Committee of Imperial Defence is being drawn, and will shortly he submitted, embodying certain alterations and additions to the existing const defence, and defining the total period and successive stages l>v which these essential requirements will he. effected.”