DEFENCE FORCES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1931, Page 6

DEFENCE FORCES

EXTENT OF RETRENCHMENT. CUTTING OF EXPENSE. PAST YEAR’S OPERATIONS. The strength of the New Zealand Permanent Defence Forces at March 31 was 349, comprising 86 officers and 263 othu 1 ranks, according to the annual report of the General Officer Commanding, MajorGeneral /W. L. H. Sinelair-Burgess, which was presented to Parliament recently. Included in the report was the first official statement showing the ' extent ofthe compulsory retirements made as an economy measure under the Finance Act of last year. It is shown that the compulsory retirements totalled 169, including 19 officers, 117 other ranks, including temporary military personnel, and 33 civil employees. A total of 76 officers and other ranks was retired on superannuation as from March 31, 1931, while the suspension of military training and the reorganisation of the work of the Defence Department permitted of the retirement of 67 members of the staff who were not entitled to a superannuation allowance. A total of 74 members of the Army Ordnance Corps was transferred to the civ l staff. 4 >

In paving a tribute to the work of the Defence 'Force officers End. men. during the Hawkes Bay earthquake, the report states that the total value of the stores issued from the ordnance stores at Trentham was £35,000. AIR FORCE INCREASE..

Dealing with Air Force matters, the report says the strength of this arm of the service is 10 officers and 45 other ranks, this representing a slight increase over the previous year. Owing t° Pressure of economy, the liasion officer at the Air Ministry, Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes, who had been carrying out valuable work, was recalled. Since last August, the Territor'al Air Force had been organised as a, wing consisting of four, squadrons, and although th;s organisation was somewhat premature, it facilitated both administration and training. The strength of this section was 66 officers, including six aero club trained pilots who bad recently gained commissions. Much valuable work was done by tbe Air Force during the Hawkes Bav earthquake. Between February 4 and 15. 99 light aeroplanes flew approximately 45,000 miles, Carrying mails, urgent stores and passengers. In addition, large quantities of mail were carried. CIVIL AVIATION.

The position of civil aviation is illustrated by the following statistics: Pilots, A license 152, B commercial license 27 ; aerodromes, 17 ; aircraft, 59; ground engineers, 38. Practically no progress was made during the year in the development of commercial air activities. A total of nine aero clubs received assistance from the Government scheme of subsidising light aero clubs. These clubs, operating 30 .aeroplanes, of which 16 were, on loan from the Government, had themselves trained IDO pilots for the A license. They had received £3OBO on account of subsidies for trained A license pilots. . "The total amount voted by Parliament for the year 1930-31, less credit-in-aid, was £332,200, which was to be reduced by economies to be effected during the year, £57,200, ‘to the sum of £270,000,” the report says. "The actual net expenditure for the year amounted to £277,799, being £2799 in excess of the net sum voted. The net expenditure on military and civil aviation for the year was £48,749, as compared with £55,102 expended during the previous year; while for other defence purposes the respective amounts were £229,050 and -£389,726.” *'