ARMY PRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1942, Page 4

ARMY PRESS

DISTRIBUTION OF TRAINING PAMPHLETS.

HEAVY AND COMPLETE TASK.

A little known but highly important section of the General Staff branch at Army Headquarters is the “Publications Section” which obtains, allocates and distributes training pamphlets and manuals and memoranda to the whole of the New Zealand Forces except those stationed in the Middle East. In less than three years of, war, several million publications have been distributed. The Publications Section has always maintained close liaison with the Army authorities throughout the Empire, and latterly the United States of America has been contributing to the flow of training publications to Army Headquarters.

The prompt issue of pamphlets direct to units has proved by far the quickest and most efficient means of putting new approved training methods into effect. The frequent appearance of new weapons, too, has necessitated the immediate distribution of instructions for their employment. It is largely in this respect 'that American publications have latterly proved of interest to New Zealand.

The greater part of the training pamphlets and manuals issued in this country originate from the War Office, London. Advance copies of all new training publications for the British Army are sent to the New Zealand Liaison Officer, London, who at once notifies Army Headquarters here by cable. At the same time a copy is forwarded to the Dominion by air mail. The officer in charge of Publications decides how many copies are required, and if the number is small cables for the necessary quantity Io be forwarded from England. A similar arrangement operates regarding Australian publications, but if the number required ,is large normal procedure is to wait for the advance copy and then have the printing done in New Zealand.

As new units come into existence, the Publications Section must see that all necessary printed matter for training' purposes is supplied at once. The section faced its biggest task of the war when the New Zealand Forces were rapidly expanded following Japan’s entry into the conflict. Scores of new units came into existence within a short period and they required a tremendous quantity of pamphlets and manuals. During the first three months of this year more than a million copies of assorted publications were distributed. Actual distribution is done by the Army Stationery office on instructions from the Publications Section. Supplies of publications from England, the Government Printer and the private firms to whom contracts have been given are delivered to Army Stationery where the bundles for each unit are made up and forwarded. Formerly bulk supplies were sent to the principal headquarters for distribution to smaller units, but now all material is sent to units direct to save this double-handling. Apart from attending to the allocation and distribution of all General Staff publications that come to hand

through routine channels the Publications Section is continually on the look-out for any military publications that may be of value. The section does its work quickly and efficiently, constantly bearing in mind the urgent need of keeping training methods and all forms of instruction in the N.Z. Forces up to the minute.