DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND: REPORT BY THE COUNCIL OF DEFENCE, AND EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28th FEBRUARY, 1909.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909 Session II, H-19

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1909. NEW ZEALAND.

DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND: REPORT BY THE COUNCIL OF DEFENCE, AND EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28th FEBRUARY, 1909.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

REPORT BY THE COUNCIL OP DEFENCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28th FEBRUARY, 1909.

Meetings. During the year ending 28th February, 1909, the Council of Defe*nce has met as required. The Hon. R. McNab, Acting Minister of Defence, and Colonel W. H. Webb, Secretary to the Council, retired in November, 1908, and 31st March, 1909, respectively. It was decided that the Inspector-General proceed to England for a twelve-months period of training, leaving New Zealand about the end of May, 1909. Policy. As outlined in last report, 1908, a Promotion Board has been set up in each district to deal with appointments and promotions to field rank. In furtherance of the policy of interchange of officers, four are about to leave New Zealand for twelve months' training. The question of the establishment of a school on the lines of that at Kingston, Canada, has been discussed, and found to be< too great an expense. Communications have been made with the Commonwealth with the object that, should they establish a school, it might be open to New Zealand students. Department of thk Chief of the General Staff. Field Organization, Military Operations, Staff Instructional Duties, Military Training and Education, Intelligence, Mobilisation, War Begulations. Field, Organization. The organization into Coast Defence and Mobile Field Force and Reserves has been kept steadily in view. The Coast Defence Artillery Divisions have improved, further reorganization to provide for a small Force to be part of Coast Defence Divisions to protect the forts from land attacks without drawing on the Field Force being considered. Regiments and battalions of the Field Force require further organization on a peace and war establishment, with a Permanent Adjutant and a sufficiency of non-commissioned officers as administrators and instructors to each. The annual saving in losses, damage to rifles and equipment, would go far to repay the cost, to say nothing of the increased efficiency. With the regiments and battalions composed of four to ten squadrons or companies, each squadron or company being governed by separate committees disposing of their capitation and grants in so many different ways, the necessary administration 'and discipline cannot be obtained,

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Organization and Distribution of the New Zealand Defence Forces on the 28th February, 1909.

N.B. —On the 29th February, 1908, the total showed 19,947, making an increase for the year ending 28th February, 1909, of 481. Hands are being trained as stretcher-bearers. There are also 191 officers carried on the Militia List. 7,730 adult Volunteers have up to date qualified for capitation. Seventy-two rolls are still outstanding, taking which at an average, it can be expected that about 11,000 will capitate for the year ending 28th February, 1909. The number of adult Volunteers who capitated as efficient for the year ending 28th February, 1906, was 11,051; 28th February, 1907, 10,846; 29th February, 1908, 11,068. The number of Defence Cadets who qualified for capitation, year ending 28th February, 1908, was 2,577. 2,269 have up to date qualified for capitation. Eighteen rolls are still outstanding, taking which at an average, it can be expected that more cadets will qualify for the year ending 28th February, 1909, than for the previous year. Military Operations. Camps of instruction were held in each military district for four days ai Easter, the attendance being as under : Volunteers, — Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 959, or 33% of strength. Wellington . ... ... ... ... 1,788, or 50% Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 572, or 40% Canterbury ... ... ... ... 1,150, or 56% ~ Otago ..." ... ... ... ... ... 1,120, or 40% Grand total ... ... ... ... 5,389 Defence Cadets. Auckland . ... ... ... ... ... ... 161 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 317 Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 70 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 307 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... . . Nil Grand total ... ... ... ... ... ... 855 It must, however, be kept in mind that at most colleges and high schools it was considered best to hold a training camp at a time other than Easter. Rifle, Clubs, —Opportunity was given to Rifle Clubs to put in the greater part of two days; but, except in the Wellington District, where 77 attended, no others mustered, and in many ca"ses did not even reply to the District Commander's circular asking for information as to numbers likely to attend. There is no doubt that Saturday of Easter week not being a general holiday is accountable for many men not being able to attend manoeuvres. The training at these camps was, as referred to in last report, a combination, of camp training and manoeuvre under the direct command of each O.C. District and his Staff. Night firing was successfully carried out by the fort defence at three of the defended ports, and attacks with shell and ball ammunition were practised by the Field Force in all districts. Staff rides, tactical exercises, and daylight week-end parades have been encouraged and carrier! out under district arrangements.

Unit. Wellington. Auckland. ' Canterbury. Otago. : i Nelson. Total. Headquarters District Staffs Permanent Force Garrison Artillery Volunteers.. Field Artillery Field Engineers Mounted Rifles Infantry Active List ■Medical Officers (attached) Medical Officers (unattached). . Field Ambulances Veterinary Officers Reserve Volunteer Corps Defence Cadets Defence Rifle Clubs Garrison Bands Battalion Bands 15 11 114 239 98 59 827 2,027 65 30 19 27 11 77 299 66 45 1,352 873 22 22 12 36 4 15 34 172 80 94 592 1,037 47 17 10 50 4 100 528 410 26 45 12 39 225 75 75 707 1,598 34 % 47 3 114 994 327 30 67 15 6 55 2 266 76 1,011 63 382 273 281 3,759 573 6,108 10 178 14 114 49 49 209 3 14 242 256 3,560 566 3,697 28 146 67 350 28 1,016 2,050 32 104 766 344 30 67 J i 4,386 1,994 20,428 6,761 1,026 3,261

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Staff and Instructional Duties. The following Instructional Stan' has been available during the year, and has done excellent work: — Artillery Services, Garrison and Field. —l Chief Instructor and 1 Sergeant-major; also the officers and N.C.O.s of the R.N.Z.A. Engineers and Signal/ing. —l Officer, with 1 N.C.0., stationed ai each of the four centres. Mounted Rifles, North Island.—l Officer, with 7 Sergeants-major. Mounted Rifles, South Island. —1 Officer, with 5 Sergeants-major. (This officer resigned as from 31st January, 1909.) Infantry. —The one officer for infantry retired in October Inst on account of permanent ill health. No officers available as Instructors, but four have been selected for training in England. North Island : 8 Sergeants-major. South Island : 8 Sergeants-major. General Service Instruction. —One Imperial officer, with headquarters at Wellington. With the work, mtudy, and administrative duties now required from Volunteer officers, it is necessary that each regiment and battalion at full strength should have a permanent Adjutant. Such officers could be trained ;it headquarters, and, as opportunity occurred, exchanged with Imperial, Canadian, or Australian officers to gain outside experience. Training and Education. The General Instruction Classes for officers and N.C.O.s proposed in last report, six days continuous each, could not be carried out, the numbers offering to attend being so few. District classes to suit local conditions were carried out in each district under District Instructional Officers, with varying results. It is again apparent that until Instructional Officers referred to under " Staff Duties " are obtained little advance can be made in general instruction. Volunteer officers do not seem to be able to give the time to attend continuous training courses in centres; therefore the instruction must be arranged to go to them in sub-centres. On return about August next of the Staff Officer now in England, and who has just completed a two-years course at Staff College, with an extra course on naval matters, and the four exchange officers referred to under " Staff Duties," special general continuous courses of instruction for the Field Force will be again attempted. The training and education of the Artillery and Engineer branches are quite satisfactory. Much good is being done by officers' and N.C.O.s' clubs and associations, useful lectures and instruction being given ; and in all districts war games are carried out. Musketry training is being better carried out, and recruits generally are better trained before joining the ranks. Provisional regulations for formation of Officers' Training Corps, Senior and Junior at universities, colleges, and high schools, have been issued ; already movement has been made among these bodies as to forming corps. In time the training received at these institutions should go far to provide an efficient class of officers and reserve officers for the Defence Forces, as well at provide military education for young men who may desire to become officers in the great Imperial Army. Training facilities in signalling have much improved. New regulations and classes have been initiated, which will, with the regular Instructors now available, further increase the efficiency of this most necessary branch of a Field Force. The great want felt in training both Permanent and Volunteer officers is the lack of a Force to operate with. This, can only be met by the initiation of a scheme whereby the Forces must undergo some period of continuous camp and Held training, when the practical portion of an officer's education may be given attention and practical examinations carried out. Examination of Volunteer Officer* for Year ending 28th February, Hit)!). —The standard of examination has been maintained: the passes obtained and quality of many of the solutions of the questions and problems were satisfactory. One hundred and seventy officers presented themselves for examination during the year ending the 28th February, 1909: 15 partially failed, 3 failed. The following comparative table for three years shows that a gradual improvement is taking place.

Intelligence, Mobilisation, and War Regulations, The Intelligence Officers have been working principally on the classification of vehicles, horses, and harness suitable for transport available in each district, in case of necessity for mobilisation, the result of which shows that the Field Force could be in emergency amply supplied. Mobilisation instructions issued last year are being better understood. Full value will not be obtained until a Permanent Adjutant is attached to each regiment and battalion, and an Army Service Corps with supply and transport formed in each district. A nucleus of vehicles and harness is now available for training.

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Period. ear ending 28th February, L9O7 29th February, L908 28th February, J 90!) i i ' Tota,l completed Ex- ] Passed, animation. .. ; 131 106 .. I 168 146 .. 170 152 Failed. 25 22 18 Percentage of Passes. 80-09 86-90 8941 Percentage of Failures. 19-91 13-10 10-59

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The completion of the North Island Main Trunk Railway has much significance in mobilisation and defence. The schemes for defence at important points in the Dominion are kept revised in line with War Office Regulations and requirements as regards co-operation with the Navy, &c, in time of emergency. Adjutant- and Quartermaster-General. Permanent Force. Owing to a decision some eighteen months ago to reduce the establishment of the Permanent Force, no enlistments have taken place during the past year, with the result that the Gunnery and Field Artillery Sections are now down to their reduced establishment, and after four noncommissioned officers, who have completed their probation, have been transferred to the Militia Staff, the Electric Light Section will be but eight N.C.O.s and men over establishment. The discipline of the Force lias generally been good. There are two vacancies fur Lieutenants, one in the Gunnery and one in the Electric Light Section, and I would recommend that these be filled. Two officers have rejoined on completion of their courses of instruction in England, one having been since transferred to the Permanent Staff for Instructional duties. Oil-launches have been provided at Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton. Considerable trouble has been experienced with the one at Wellington owing to continual breakdowns, but those at the other centres are now working satisfactorily. Medical Department. During the past year the Field Ambulances have been reorganized under the new regulations. From reports furnished by the Director-General the efficiency of the corps appears to be improving. Special mention must ba made of the corps raised last year in Wellington, which has shown marked improvement. The Director-General brings to notice that, owing to the lack of officers willing to lecture, and want of equipment, the training of bandsmen in stretcher drill, &c, has been very perfunctory during the year. An additional supply of stretchers, locally made, and " Manuals of the Army Medical Corps " have lately been obtained. These will shortly be issued, and it is hoped that in future the training of bandsmen will be carried out under more favourable circumstances. The St. John's Ambulance Brigade have signified their willingness to act with the Medical Corps in the event of war. Needless to say, this Brigade would be of the greatest assistance, and the Acting-Director-General is now elaborating a scheme for mobilisation, which will be submitted in due course. As regards the equipment, an additional supply of surgical haversacks and tabloid medical clients have been obtained from England. The new pattern ambulance-wagons, locally made, were issued in time for the Easter camps, and from reports received proved superior to the Mark V Imperial pattern, which was considered too heavy for colonial requirements. Veterinary Department. During the past year efforts have been made to properly organize and render the corps efficient. Reports rendered by Veterinary Officers who attended the various camps, on the condition of horses employed and their general management, cannot lie considered favourable. A number of the horses employed are not up to the weight required, their conformation rendering them unsuitable for Mounted Infantry work. Cases requiring treatment were composed mainly of injuries, the result of kicks, and saddle and girth galls; treatment was also necessary in several cases of debility following exhaustion and colic. The evidence of Veterinary Officers was utilised by Courts of Inquiry in assessing the value of horses lost through accidents sustained while on duty and in ascertaining the nature and extent of injuries in order to estimate I lie amount of compensation due to the owner. During the winter months Captain Reid delivered a series of lectures on the " Care and Management of Horses, ,, and other officers have also given lectures at the various Mounted camps. Army Service Corps. The authority for the establishment of a Transport and Supply Corps has not yet been obtained. It was found necessary for the matter to stand over until the coming year, when the amount of money required would be placed on the estimates. This has now been done, and it is hoped that the necessary sanction will shortly be obtained. Arms and Ammunition. With the exception of one regiment, the whole of the Mounted units in the Dominion arc now armed with the M.L.E. short Mark I rifle, fitted with the bayonet pattern 1908. As a large number of Volunteer corps have persistently failed to produce the whole of their arms at the annual inspection of armourers, orders were issued that all rifles not produced would be charged against capitation. This lias had the desired effect, and a large number of the rifles have sdnce been forwarded for inspection. The supply of ordnance ammunition is maintained in accordance with the scale laid down. As regards the small-arms, the reserve is being steadily increased.

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The ammunition supplied 1)3- the Colonial Ammunition Company continues to be satisfactory. During the year very few complaints have been received, although nearly two and a half million rounds were fired by the various corps and Rifle Clubs. A test was made during the year by the Testing Officer of samples from the oldest ammunition in stock, and showed that no deterioration had taken place, although it has been stored for some time. Clothing and Equipment. Although all corps are fully equipped with accoutrements, our reserve is not sufficiently large. Tenders for an additional supply are now being invited, which should insure a sufficient supply when required. A supply of nose-bags for Mounted corps has been obtained. These are kept in the Mobilisation Stores of districts, and issued when required at camps, &c. The camp equipment is being maintained in good order, and tents not considered serviceable for military purposes are being disposed of at satisfactory rates. A small supply of the newpattern operating-tent was obtained during the year. Field Engineering and Signalling Equipment. A new Field Engineering and Signalling equipment has been laid down, and the stores are now under order. As it was considered that the bull's-eye lamps at present on issue to corps were of no practical use for signalling purposes, experiments were carried out, and it was found that these lamps, fitted witli acetylene lights, gave very good results. As the conversion can be carried out at a small cost, the whole of the lamps are now being fitted with acetylene. Transport. A transport wagon, S.A.A. oart, and water-cart, with harness, and also a supply of packsaddles, have been issued to each district. These were used at the Easter camps, and proved satisfactory. Rifle Ranges. The rifle ranges in the Dominion have been maintained in good order; Repairs and additions have been carried out on the ranges at Trentham, Simmer, Alexandra South, Tauranga, Te Aroh,a, Woodend, Hamilton, Daunevirke, Penrose, Pelichet Bay, Bruce, Kketahuna, Millerton, Reefton, Clutha, Oamaru, and Stratford. Land has been taken for a new rifle range at Fernhill, Hastings, and money granted for equipment. The lease of a site for a range at Hawera has been approved, and an agreement is now being drawn up ; and arrangements will shortly be made to provide a range at Masterton. Land lias also been taken for a new range at Cobden, GreymoutF. At Ashburton effort has been made , to increase the area of the present site. Drill-halls. During the year many of the drill-halls in the Dominion have been added to and repairs carried out. Additions have been made to the halls at Wellington, Gisborne, Napier, Greymouth, Blenheim, Spring Grove, Christchurch, and Caversham. • New drainage has been installed at the Mobilisation Store, Dunedin, and at the drill-shed at Auckland. Retainirig-walls have been erected at the Lyttelton shed, and one built at Fort Jervois for the N.Z. Garrison Artillery Volunteers. Report has been called for regarding the drill-hall at Palmerston North. Department of Finance. The sum voted last veai by Parliament out of the Consolidated Fund for Defence services was .£217,(537, of which amount £195,685 was expended during the year. The principal items that make up this expenditure are as follows: — Salaries and pay,— £ < Headquarters ... ... ... ... ... ... 7, (> -j 2 Permanent Force ... ... ... ... ... ... 42,027 Volunteer Force ... .'.. ... ... ... ... 10,255 Stores and magazines ... ... ... ... ... 4,939 Capitation and personal payments to adult Volunteers and Cadets ... 29,877 Training-camps and instruction ... ... ... ... ... G,240 Easter manoeuvres, 1908 ... ... ... ... ... 14,106 Efficiency fee.* and badges for Volunteers... ... ... ... 8,097 Freight, cartage, and shipping charges ... ... ... ... 4,019 Railway fares and charges ... ... ... ... ... 4,489 Travelling allowances and expenses ... ... ... ... 5,993 Ammunition, cordite, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 27,813 Arms, equipment, ordnance, and other warlike stores ... ... 13,486 Maintenance of launches, including cost of three new motor-launches ... 3,244

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Under the head of " Contingent Defence " within the Public Works Fiind, the sum of £20,000 was voted, out of which £10,765 Us. 4d. was expended, the principal items being as follows: — £ s. d. Drill-sheds*, erection, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 6,388 10 0 Rifle ranges ... ... ... ... ... ... 808 1!) 10 Six-field-guns ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,802 17 6 ,£7,296 19s. lid. was expended during the last financial year on fixed harbour defences. As there remains a considerable amount of uncompleted work in connection with the defences of the principal harbours of this Dominion, a sum of £12,000 at least will be required to enable these works to be carried out. Dominion Rifle Association. The annual rifle-shooting meeting was held at Trentham in March last, commencing on the 4th and terminating , on the 12th, and was the most successful meeting in the history of rifleshooting in New Zealand. The designation of the Association has been changed to the Dominion Rifle Association, by which name it will in future be known. Although a wave of depression was being experienced throughout the Dominion, there was a large increase in the number of competitors, totalling 519, of whom 335 were Volunteers and 184 Rifle Club men. The number of competitors was a record for New Zealand, and in proportion to population it represented a much larger number of men than England, Australia, or Canada place in the shooting-field. The weather-conditions that obtained throughout the meeting were all that could be desired, no rain having fallen during the progress of the shooting. The cash prizes paid totalled £1,448 165., the prize-money being allocated as follows: — £ a. d. Open to all competitors ... ... ... ... ... 1,308 16 0 Open to Volunteers only ... ... ... ... ... 80 0 0 Open to Rifle Club men only ... ... ... ... 60 0 0 1,448 16 0 Of the amount open to all competitors, the Volunteers won 67 per cent., Riflemen 33 per cent.; while the percentage of competitors was, Volunteers 65 per cent., as against Riflemen 35 per cent. As the entries were more than anticipated, the executive was able to add an additional £100 to the published prize programme. The Championship Belt was won by Lieutenant W. Duncan, of the Millerton Rifle Volunteers, Westport, with the creditable score of 491 ; Corporal A. Patrick, of the Victoria Rifle Volunteers, Auckland', being second, with 490; and Quartermaster-Sergeant E. Shaw, of the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Volunteers, third, with 489. His Excellency the Governor was present at the firing of the Championship, and subsequently presented the prizes to the winners. As showing the standard of the shooting throughout the meeting, it is notable that, while the Championship Belt was won in 1908 with a score of 431 for 112 shots, the winner of the 1909 Championship, with two shots less in the series, compiled a score of 491. The Permanent Artillery were employed as markers, there being no fewer than eighty-two members of the Force doing duty on the range. The marking gave entire satisfaction. The meeting has been notable for the introduction of several new matches, fired under service conditions, s : iich as the Surprise Target Match, the Loophole Cover Match, and the Attack Match. Other matches will have to be introduced at next meeting in order to bring rifle-shooting more into accord with war conditions. The Colonial Ammunition Company, Auckland, supplied, as usual, the ammunition for the meeting, which was of excellent quality and gave universal satisfaction. Having due regard to the fact that the Dominion Rifle Association is assuming such large dimensions, the necessity for additional long-range accommodation is becoming annually more pressing, and the Chief Executive Officer has recommended that the Sommerville Range should be extended so as to give facilities for competitions up to 1,000 yards, thus giving a target accomodation at Trentham, from 200 to 1,(100 yards, of fifty targets, and the Collins range being available for twenty-five targets from 200 to 600 yards. With this accommodation the meeting could be carried out within a week. It is suggested that twenty-five iron target-frames, the same as used on the Seddon Range, should be made for the Sommerville Range, in place of the present revolving targets. The notification by the Government of their intention to send a rifle team to take part in the Empire Rifle Match, in October next, at Sydney, is much appreciated by the shooting-men of the Dominion.

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Garrison and Field Artillery. The following are the results of the annual service class-firing carried out by the New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers for 1908-9: —

Average percentage of marks awarded to Electric Light Sections : — No. 1 Company, G.A.V., Otago Division ... ... 794 (Section of 11 men). No. 1 Company, G.A.V., Auckland Division ... 773 (Section of 10 men). No. 2 Company, G.A.V., Canterbury Division ... Not examined. It is impossible to compare No. 3 Company, G.A.V., Wellington, with the other sections, as with the latter the average marks are based on the work of the whole company. It is the only Electric Light Company in New Zealand.

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Division. Company. Figure of Merit from B.L. Guns. Figure of Merit for Q.F. Total Figure of Merit. Class. Remark and 12-pr. 8 in. B.L. 6 in. B.L. Auokland .. .. No. 1 Auokland.. .. No. 1 .. 1-111 1-738 1-319 1st Awarded the Hudson Gup for Q.P. shooting. 1-111 1-738 1-319 No. 2 0-877 .. 1-085 0-946 1st .. No. 2 ! 0-0-877 1-085 0-940 No. 3 No. 3 .. 1-381 1-490 1-417 1st Awarded tlie Coast Artillery Cup for B.L. shooting. 1-381 1-490 1-417 Wellington .. No. 1 ', 0Wellington .. No. 1 0-6.17 1-208 0-774 0-806 1st 0-617 1-208 0-774 0-806 No. 2 No. 2 .. 1-170 .. 1-170 1st 1170 1-170 Canterbury .. No. 1 0Canterbury .. No. 1 | 0-544 0-546 0-389 0-493 Notolassed 0-544 0-546 0-389 0-493 No. 2 I 0No. 2 I 0-918 1-070 0-678 0-888 1st I 0-918 1-070 0-678 0-888 Otago .. .. No. 1 Otago .. .. No. 1 .. 1-196 0-043 1-011 1st 1-196 0-643 1-011 .. No. 2 No. 2 .. .. 0-745 0-745 1st 0-745 0-745 Westport .. .. No. 1 [ i i Westport .. .. No. 1 .. .. 0 700 0-700 1st j Fired under special conditions from 6-pr. Q.P. guns on field mouriii mRe -_ 0-700 0-700 Order of Merit. — 8 n. B.L. — 8 n. B.L. 6 in. B.L. Light Q.F. For all Shooting. 1st .. No. 2 Company, Canterbury 2nd .. No. 2 Company, Auokland 3rd .. No. 1 Company, Wellington 1st .. No. 2 Company, Canter- No. 3 Company, Auck- No. 1 Company, Auok- No. 3 Company, Auek bury land land land. 2nd .. No. 2 Company, Auok- No. 1 Company, Welling- No. 3 Company, Auok No. 1 Company, Auokland ton land land. 3rd .. No. 1 Company, Welling- No. 1 Company, Otago.. No. 2 Company, Auok- No. 2 Company, Wellington land ton. Keturn showing Standard op Efficiency of No. 3 Company, Wellington Division, N.Z.G.A.V. (Electric Light Company). Staff. Electric Lighting. Engine-driving. Signalling. Trumpeters. Attendance. Total. Percentage. I 80 I j 51-1 50-53 93-5 10 99 384-13 78-4

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Return showing Standard of Efficiency of the New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers for 1908-9.

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Division. a 2 O.C. Company. fl Is 'i j I 1 § 1 K « tc a i En h ■< I g ■3 S 53 EH &H A f i ! isa 1 0(3 u CJ s & a CD e w o ■« O fl « qg&=p © cd fl tL I % u e O S 1 Capt. Knyvetc 95 77-7 90-5 90 98-2 18 95 90-5 90 98-2 18 95 85 95 85 649-4 90-19 Nil 90-19 1st "A" 15-14 4th Auckland - 2 Lieut. Vaughan 86 71-6 90 92-9 89-9 16-( 86 90 92-9 89-9 166 90 80 90 80 617-0 85-7 1 84-7 1st "A" 2-7 8th 3 Capt. Moran .. 95 80-6 84 80 100 15 95 84 80 100 15 95 80 95 80 629-6 87-45 0-25 87-2 1st "A" 11-05 7th ( 1 Gapt. Menziea 100 87-7 94-3 96-8 97-9718 100 94-3 96-8 97-97 18 100 92 100 92 686-77 90-2 0-5 95-7 1st "A" 6-2 2nd Wellington ] ( *2 Capt. Freeman *2 98 94-56 96-56 96-75 94-84 20 98 96-56 96-75 94-84 20 100 98 100 98 698-71 97 Nil 97 1st "A" 1-02 1st C 1 Capt. Foster .. 90 85-6 89-3 64-35 61-3 10 90 89-3 64-35 01-3 10 85 85 85 85 570-55 792 Nil 79-2 t "B" 2-5 10th Canterbury \ ( 2 Capt. Rattray 94 89-9 98-77 94-88 67-6818 94 93-77 94-33 67-68 18 100 80 100 80 637-68 88-56 Nil 88-56 1st "k" 3-56 5th l\ 1 Capt. Frederic 98 87-44 93-3 92-5 92-5 20 98 93-3 92-5 92-5 20 95 90 95 90 680-74 94-54 0-5 9404 1st "A" 3-74 3rd Otago J ( 2 Capt. Dodds .. 90 90-4 85-1 90-2 92-5518 90 85-1 90-2 92-55 18 95 80 95 80 641-25 89-0 0-5 88-5 1st "A" 0-7 6th Westport .. 1 Capt. Cottrell 88 78-95 .. 80 84-7812 88 80 84-78 12 90 90-45 90 90-45 524-18 84-5 Nil 84-5 1st "A" 9-5 9th * Award led Coast Artillery Challenge Shiel ild for 1908-i -9. t Not class isd. Return showing Results of Efficiency Examinations o for the Year )f the Ne 1908-9. ew Zealand Fie ld Aetil: ljcry Volunteer Station. Battery Commander. en 0, ■at □ Tarn■out. p5 n j< Sα a So J5 . j<1 o 3 m 2 I S It ii ! DO § QQ I 0 i i 5 a u " a o fli IK Pn fa © I a i fl cc 5 a aj I s a tab '> Q § 1 Eh i in Auckland Capt. Sherson 94 100 89 50 38 97 16 47 4' 50" %0 25 631 Nil 80-2 1st "A" 2-5 A BDunedin Capt. Ritchie.. 99-5 91-6 92 97 ■18 96 ■20 46*5 2' 54" 100 46 736-6 , 95-66 1st "A" 5-66 D Well'gton Capt. Petherick 98 91-6 92-8 99-2 l<) 97-08 15 48*53 3' 20" 95 50 736-21 „ 95-61 1st "A" 5-48 E Christo'h Capt. Dunoan 89 70 82 95-75 38 94 18 46-5 4' 30" 84 30 647-25 „ 84-6 2nd "A" H Nelson .. Capt. Madigan 81 82 60- 6 64-3 25 92 17 46-1 2' 40" 100 30 538 , 7G-3G 2nd "A" 1 Awar< ledC: a! lent iliii ild (oi 1908-9,

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Results of Field Artillery Classification Practice, 1908-9. The following is an analysis of the results of Field Artillery practice carried out throughout the Dominion during the 1908-9 training season : — Designation of Battery ...... A B D E H Station .. .. .. •■ •• Auckland Dunedin Wellington Christch'ch Nelson. Number of guns ........ i 4 4 4 2 Nature of guns .. .. . .. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. Mark IV Mark IV Mark IV Mark IV Mark IV. Number of series fired for classification 6 6 6 5 4 Number of series fired by indirect laying .. 6 6 6 5 4 Number of series fired from concealed positions-.. .. .. 1 1 1 Meanrange.. .. .. .. .. 2,150 2,870 3,350 2,745 3,250 Average time taken from— Action to Ist gun .. .. .. .. 2' 29" l> 33" 1' 34" 2' 47" 3' 50" Aotion to Ist " T " shell .. .. .. 4' 48" 3' 27" 3' 16" 5' 27" 7' 20" Action to effective fire .. .. .. 5' 32" 5' 0" 4' 41" 7' 50" 8' 20" Aotion to last gun .. .. .. .. 10' 5" 9' 47" 11' 9" 17' 2" 17' 40" Average peroentage of effective "T" shell .. 70 48 46 31 84 Average number of rounds in series .... 25 25 25 25 2i Number of rounds used for ranging (percussion) 4 4 4 4 4 Marks awarded for (" A ") fire discipline and fire tactics, &c. .. .. .. 34 36 36 34 25 Aocuracy in ranging ........ 9 9 7 8 8 Percentage of effective "T" shell .... 8 6 5 3-5 8-5 Percentage of target destroyed .... 9 7-5 6 6 7 Distribution.. ........ S 8 4 6 8 Time occupied ........ 7 8 8 3 2 Percentage of shell in reotangle .... 9 8 4 5 8 Total marks for (" B") effeot .. .. .. 50 465 34 31-5 41-5 Total marks for the practice .. .. .. 84 82-5 70 65-5 66-5 Class awarded in (" A") .. .. .. Ist Ist Ist Ist 2nd Class awarded in (" B") .. .. .. Ist let Ist 2nd Ist Classification for 1908-9 .. .. .. Ist Ist Ist 2nd 2nd Note.—ln order to classify as a Ist olasa battery a minimum of 70 marks must be obtained. " A " Battery, N.Z.F.A.V., Auckland, wins the " Ehodes " Cup for 1908-9. Engineers. The Officer for Engineer and Signalling, on arrival from previous training in England, took over the duty of Instructor to Engineering and Signalling Corps. Four N.C.O. Instructors— one for each centre —were put under training, and have since been posted to districts. The provision of cable-carts carrying some miles of wire and instruments has added much to the usefulness of these corps. The equipment is good, and with the pack-saddles now available good training can be done. Certain conversions now being made in over a hundred signalling-lamps, before useless, will immensely increase the signalling and communication capacity of the Field Force generally. The following return shows the efficiency of the various Field Engineers in the Dominion :—

Return showing Efficiency of the New Zealand Field Engineer Volunteers for Year 1908-9.

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No. of Company. 1 +-> I I J? I t 60 I d it f If §■§ i i I i I I Bemarka. O q 100 100 100 100 100 160 100 700 o. 1 Company ' I o. 2 Company 91 89 85 90 98 80 70 81 84 70 66 89 79 700 700 597 557 85-30 79-57 First - class company. Awarded shield for year 1908-9. Field engineering excellent; signalling very good. This company would not compete ; but the Chief of General Staff ruled that, even if a company does not compete, it must be marked according to its efficiency in the work that is seen. This company has the most efficient Telegraph Section. Best-disciplined company. "o. 5 Com80 82 80 96 8171 18 700 538 76-85 pany o. 4 Corn80 80 75 86 80 90 J r> 700 536 76-57

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EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL, NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES.

[Portion of the report is not published, being considered of a confidential nature.] Sir,- Ist May, 1909. I have the honour to submit the following report on the Forces of New Zealand : — In my last annual report (May, 1908) I stated that I had then inspected (with one or two exceptions) every corps in the Dominion; that I had inspected every squadron of Mounted Rifles, and every company of Infantry, &c, separately and at their own headquarters as far as possible. I also pointed out that, as most of the regiments of M.R. and battalions of Infantry rarely, if ever, came together for training, a very large proportion of officers commanding these units, their seconds in command, and their Adjutants had never even seen their own units, much less had an opportunity of working with them in the field. In consequence of the above report of mine, and decision of the Council, it was decided that all regiments and battalions at least should be brought together at the most convenient centres for my inspections, and also that, wherever possible, composite forces should be mobilised at the larger centres, in order that I should be able to judge and report on the ability and experience or the aptitude of the senior officers to command their units and of the various arms of the service to work together. In order to carry out these mobilisations;, free passes on the railways were granted where necessary, and in such few instances where it was necessary that men should remain away from their homes for a night, owing to the squadrons or companies composing a regiment or battalion being scattered over a wide area, an allowance for food, &c, was granted in order that the men should not be out of pocket. All these musters were allowed to count as daylight parades (which, of course, they are) for personal payment. The result of these musters for inspection appears under various headings in this report, the officers being reported upon confidentially as usual. Although my duty is to report upon the result of the instruction received, not to instruct, I have, of course, tried to make these field-days (of two or three hours, 1 regret to say, in most cases) as instructive as possible, realising that no opportunity must be lost when so very few are available In order to endeavour to accomplish this I have lectured to the officers and N.C.O.s on practical field-work on nineteen occasions at various centres, and the total attendance was about 520. When possible, these lectures were delivered the evening before the parade, and the work dealt with at the lecture was attempted next day in the field. In cases where these meetings could not be held on the evening before the parade, in consequence of officers and N.C.O.s not having arrived, they were held on the evening after. In all cases the work done was criticized on the ground, when possible, and, when that was not practicable, then as soon as possible afterwards. Harbour Defences. At my inspections I have found the various works and armaments, barracks, &c, in the Dominion in good order, and well kept by the Permanent Force. The new works in course of construction at Auckland and Wellington (referred to in my last report) have not yet been completed. Permanent Force. I have seen all the detachments of the R.N.Z.A. either separately or acting as instructors to the Volunteer G.A.V. at my inspections, and am glad to be able to report that I consider the Force in a most satisfactory condition. At their most important work, as instructors to the Volunteer Garrison Artillery, officers, N.C.O.s, and men are not only capable but painstaking and enthusiastic, and it is greatly owing to their energy and keenness that the Volunteers referred to are in such a satisfactory state of efficiency. Volunteers. I have inspected every adult corps of every arm of the service in the Dominion that it has been found practicable to muster at their own regimental or battalion headquarters or otherwise most suitable place for them during the past year. In the case of four corps (two squadrons M.K. and two companies of Infantry) it was not practicable for them to parade with their regiments &c and they were not ordered to do so. Also some of the units in the Wellington District could not be got together except at Easter, and were seen by me on that occasion. I have inspected all the Defence Cadets with the exception of three companies. The total number of corps ordered to parade for inspection was 248. . •,-,•. j * +y, Q In the returns which follow, giving the numbers present m the various districts and for the Dominion, I have, to make the position clear, separated the Forces into four distinct parts, namely, — (1.) Coast Defence Force. (2.) Field Force (combatants). (3.) Field Force (non-combatants). (4.) Cadets.

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11

Detail of Inspections by the Inspector-General, N.Z. Defence Forces.

The foregoing returns show that the attendance of the combatant portion of the Field Force has been much worse than that of any other part of the Force, only 4,517 of all ranks and all arms (being about 1,500 less than the previous year, accounted for, no doubt, partly by the fact that musters were by regiments and battalions instead of squadrons and companies) out of an enrolled strength, at the end of. last year, of 10,552, and an establishment of 14,329 for the Dominion, having paraded for inspection. The total attendance at the various Easter camps in the Dominion for this Force was 4,545 nil ranks (or about 150 less than the year before), and I am quite confident that I am well within the mark in saying that not more than a total of 5,000 officers and men of the Field Force have done any work in the field in daylight during the year.

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Branch of Service. Number of Corps Present on ordered Parade, out. Enrolled EstablishStrength. ment of Percentage of Corps Corps of Enrolled ordered ordered Strength, out. out. Percentage of Establishment. Auckland Military . District. Coast Defence Force—G.A.V. ... Field Force — Field Artillery, Mounted Eifles, Field Engineers, Infantry Non-combatants—Field Ambulance, Bands Cadets ... ... 3 245 34 924 293 1,814 477 2,746 Per Cent. 83-5 51 Per Cent. 51-5 34 1 12 30 52 40 23-8 9 439 514 591 85-5 74-5 Wellington Military District. 81 49-4 • 41 34-7 Coast Defence Force —G.A.V. ... Field Force — Field Artillery, Field Engineers, Mounted Rifles, Infantry Non-combatants — Field Ambulance, Bands Cadets 3 196 I 50 1,281 3 58 I 243 I 2,599 66 477 3,688 66 88 88 10 422 553 630 76-5 67 Coast Defence Force—G.A.V. ... Field Force — Field Artillery, Mounted Rifles, Infantry Non-combatants — Field Ambulance, Bands Cadets Nelson Military L 1 22 15 265 District. 33-8 28-8 14-1 21-25 65 919 156 1,138 5 80 150 138 53-3 57 4 191 230 264 83 72-5 Canterbury Military i District. 84 54-2 435 34-6 Coast Defence Force —G.A.V. ... Field Force — Field Artillery, Field Engineers, Mounted Rifles, Infantry Non-combatants — Field Ambulance, Bands Cadets 2 139 37 966 4 85 165 1,781 117 331 2,792 118 72-6 72 9 354 446 580 79 61 Otago Military D 2 176 37 1,105 district. 78 54-5 53 41-4 Coast Defence Force—G.A.V. ... Field Force — Field Artillery, Field Engineers, Mounted Rifles, Infantry Non-combatants — Field Ambulance, Bands Cadets 226 2,038 118 331 2,693 118 793 79-5 4 94 15 499 783 961 63-6 511 tail of Ini tpections /< >r Dominio , , Coast Defence Force —G.A.V. ... Field Force — Field Artillery, Field Engineers, Mounted Rifles, Infantry Non-combatants — Field Ambulance, Bands Cadets 11 173 778 4,541 992 9,151 1,772 13,057 78-65 49-5 44-5 34-5 17 329 481 492 68-5 67 47 1,905 2,526 3,046 75-5 63

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Coast Defence Force. — Garrison Artillery Volunteers. The establishment for the Dominion is now 1,783, and the enrolled strength at the end of the past Volunteer year only 1,011. There has therefore been relatively no improvement as regards the strength of this arm during the past year, which is much to be regretted. I have inspected all the corps, and the total attendance was 778. As I pointed out last year, this does not give sufficient trained men to provide reliefs to enable work to be carried on in war; and untrained men for this work are useless. It is sincerely to be hoped, therefore, that means may be found to obtain the numbers necessary. I am very glad to be able to report, as to efficiency, that this branch of the service has reached a most satisfactory state all round, and that all ranks are most keen and determined to maintain this high standard. The shooting this past year (at most of which I was present) has been good everywhere, and in several cases excellent—in fact, there has been a steady and continuous improvement for the past five years. The physique in several corps is much above the average of the Voluntear Force, and the discipline throughout is entirely satisfactory. The Electric Light Company in Wellington (No. 3) has worked exceedingly well. It is composed of men of a fine stamp, who have generally something to do with engineering in their private occupations, and who are thoroughly in earnest, and will do well. This company is to be converted into a gunnery company, with its own E.L. Section, and each gunnery company in the Force will have in future, or already has, its own E.L. Section as part of its company establishment. While all have worked so well, I should like to specially point out the wonderful strides that have been made in one company (No. 1, G.A.V., Auckland), which not long ago was in very low water indeed, and which has now worked up to the position of one of the most efficient, the credit for which is due largely to the able and energetic Commanding Officer. Field Force. — Field Artillery. There are five four-gun batteries of Field Artillery, with a total establishment of 500, the enrolled strength at the end of the year being 382 all ranks. For my inspections the total muster was 297. With regard to drill and discipline, the state of these batteries is generally very satisfactory, and their shooting at their annual practice is generally improving and producing good results. I repeat again what I said in my last report, that, considering the very few opportunities they get for work in the field, great credit is due to all ranks for their present state of efficiency. Some of the batteries are very much handicapped by the unsuitable horses they get for their work, especially the Dunedin battery. All the horses for all the batteries (except Wellington, where a certain number of horses are kept for artillery and transport purposes) are hired from contractors, and there are at present no means of insuring that either the same or even suitable horses can be obtained. With untrained, often ill-broken horses, unaccustomed to the battery harness and the work, and with a number of the drivers and men only accustomed to handling horses or riding while at drill or training, the results are very creditable indeed to the batteries, but it is a wonder there are not more serious accidents to both men and horses. If a few horses were kept for artillery and transport work at eacli district headquarters, or if the batteries always had at their call the use of suitable horses and the same horses for training purposes, the increased efficiency in riding, driving, and manoeuvring would soon be apparent, and I am sure all ranks in the Field Artillery would be much encouraged thereby. I am, however, firmly convinced, as I have before reported, that it is absolutely essential that they should have much more opportunity of training in the field, both by themselves and in co-operation with other arms, before there is a chance of their becoming efficient for the work they will be called upon to do in war. As I have several times pointed out, they do not remain in camp during the daytime at their camps of instruction, but only work in the early morning and evening for a short time. It shows their keenness when they are willing to do this (as, indeed, the G.A.V. arid F.E. do) in addition to carrying on their ordinary business, but it is useless to pretend that they can learn their work satisfactorily under these conditions. All ranks in a field battery—officers, N.C.O.s, gun-layers, drivers, &c.—require a great amount of training in the field, in order that they may gain a knowledge of country, know the best positions to occupy, the best way to get their guns into those positions, may be able to pick up quickly and know at once the best method of dealing with the various descriptions of targets (especially moving ones) that they would have to fire at, and may thoroughly understand their duties in co-operation with other arms ; and they are certainly not able to accomplish this in the time now at their disposal. At some of my inspections during the past year I have tested the efficiency of batteries in the field by sending out a number of mounted men to move about over country in front, and within range of the battery, in various formations, to represent the different descriptions of targets they might have to deal with; and found, as I expected, that they had very little experience in the choice of positions and the most effective methods of ranging or descriptions of fire to adopt under the varied conditions which arise. It has been clearly and definitely pointed out by Major-General Babington, when Commandant of the Forces, that he considered it impossible for these batteries to attain to the necessary state of efficiency with the present amount of field training. Field Engineers. The total enrolled strength of the four companies at the end of the year was 273, for an establishment of 420. The number attending training camps was 250, and at my inspections, wEere they paraded with the other troops of the garrisons at their respective centres, 148 were present.

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1 am glad to be able to report that the corps referred to in my last annual report as being "very backward indeed in every respect " has during the past year improved very much indeed, and is on a much more satisfactory footing. The Instructor for Signalling and Engineering Services has now four N.C.O.s of the Permanent Foroe (one for each company of Field Engineers) to assist him in his duties, and there is every reason to expect that rapid improvement will result in all classes of work which it is possible for these corps to learn in the time and with the opportunities at their disposal, especially the Field Telegraph and Signalling Sections. Indeed, I am sure there has been improvement in these sections. I have pointed out in my last two annual reports that it is quite impossible to train the Field Engineering Sections in the use of ground, the knowledge of the best positions to occupy, and the most effective means of doing so, unless they can get much more training in the field than they do at present, and that what is required is knowledge of what is known as the " tactical use of the spade"; also, that this can never be learnt in drill-halls or in flat paddocks only. These corps are not by regulation obliged to spend even one whole day in the field in the year, as they, like the Field Artillery, only work in the early morning (and some not even then) and evening at their annual training camps. Without even a short period (a few days at least) of continuous training in the field it is impossible for them to reach the required standard of efficiency in their field engineering knowledge and duties especially. Mounted Rifles. Only 1,556, all ranks, of this arm of the service have paraded for my inspection during the past year, and this total includes the Mounted Rifles seen by me at the Easter Camp, Wellington District. The enrolled strength at the end of the year was 3,759 and the establishment 5,922. This is a much worse result than for the previous year, being about 300 less in number and a much lower percentage of enrolled strength. Only 1,016 were present at the various Easter camps. In turn-out, neatness, and general uniformity of appearance of the men and horses composing the squadrons, and therefore of the squadron as a whole, there is no doubt whatever that, taken all round (though there are very notable exceptions in both Islands), the South Island is ahead of the North. This, I consider, is easily accounted for :as a general rule, men brought up and accustomed to see round them all their lives neat farms and trim well-cut hedges, to travel always on metalled roads, &c. —in short, to have all things round them orderly and neat—are sure, if left to themselves and without special training, to pay more attention to these details than those always living amongst rough bush clearings, with perhaps primitive fences and only mud tracks to travel by; and many of the Mounted Rifles in the North have these drawbacks to contend with still. Ido not say for one moment that the former would necessarily be individually better-fighting soldiers for this reason. On the contrary, just as the savage individually is a better fighter than the untrained town-bred man, so, the wilder and more natural a man's surroundings have always been, the better soldier he ought to make, with thorough training and discipline to teach him to work in co-operation with others. It must not be forgotten, however, that the training which begets uniformity in appearance in units is an important part of the training and discipline which insures that all will work together, and it helps to build up that pride in their own squadron or regiment (or esprit de corps) which means success. All commanders should therefore insist upon it. As already mentioned, my inspections for the past year have been of regiments, wherever it was found possible to muster them, and not by squadrons, except in a few cases, where it was found not practicable to get the squadrons together. Some of the musters called for this purpose in the South Island, in Otago and Canterbury, taking all circumstances into consideration, have been fairly satisfactory in point of numbers; and two of the regiments in the Auckland District (Nos. 2 and 3), trained as regiments, and I was able to see them at their camps. Of the other two regiments in Auckland (Nos. 1 and 4), No. 4 was ordered to mobilise, and only one squadron paraded, and the O.C. District did not consider it practicable to get No. 1 together. None of the Wellington regiments could be mobilised for this purpose, and I was only able to see such as turned out for Easter. At the parade ordered in Nelson only fifteen all ranks of one squadron paraded, the other two squadrons not being represented at all. Blenheim and Gisborne squadrons were purposely seen separately, and the former mustered very well indeed. In very many cases, especially in that of the 4th Auckland Regiment, there was no sound reason whatever why the muster ordered should not have been very much better, especially as one squadron in the latter was in training camp within an easy ride—about thirty miles —of the place appointed for the muster at the time. As the regiments in any case very rarely, and iri the great majority of cases never, get together at all, they are, of course, little else but regiments in name. The Commanding Officers and their Staffs cannot possibly learn to handle them, and the squadron-leaders cannot learn their work in the regiment. On the very rare occasions (like these musters for inspection during the past year) when they are brought together they are necessarily only a collection of squadrons often in very widely separated stages of efficiency, and no matter how'expert their Commanding Officers may be they could not be made work together satisfactorily without practice. The material of which they are composed is generally excellent, and with a comparatively short training they would soon become very efficient, but without it is is obviously impossible. There are squadrons in each district which are now, considering their short periods of training, very good indeed, owing to the exceptional officers that have made them so, but there is certainly no regiment that can be called, by any stretch of imagination, efficient, owing entirely to want of facilities for learning to work as a regiment. I have before called attention to, and must again strongly urge, the necessity for in many squadrons much more attention being paid to horsemanship or the care of horses.

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I have heard it said that these mcii own their own horses, and therefore think they can use them as they wish, but no Force can be run on such principles. They must be taught that they bring their horses, as they come themselves, for the service of their country and the good of the whole, and that a mounted man when his horse is done is useless for the work for which he is required —in fact, he may be an encumbrance. The Veterinary Corps is now in a fair way to gain a proper footing, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the veterinary surgeons will be helped and backed up by Commanding Officers in their endeavours to teach such as need it the proper way to care for horses. Then we shall not sec, as I saw recently, for instance, mounted men galloping hard along a metalled road into a river, where they allowed their horses to fill themselves with water, and immediately gallop off again as fast as possible, where there was, moreover, no necessity whatever for such a performance. Infantry and Cycle Corps. Out of a total enrolled strength of 6,187 at the end of the year, and an establishment of 7,424 Infantry (including three Cycle Corps), only 2,528 of all ranks presented themselves for inspection, and only 2,897 were present at the various Easter camps. My inspections have all been battalion (or, at least, half-battalion) inspections, except in the case of the Gisborne Rifles, which was unavoidable owing to the distance separating this company from the rest of its battalion. All these inspections have been in the field and in daylight. Although in almost all cases inspections have been at times and places best suited to battalions, also in some cases special trains have been used to avoid loss of time from their private occupations, and in the few instances where it was unavoidable that men should remain away from their homes for a night an allowance to cover actual expenses was granted, in addition to which personal payment was given for these daylight parades, the result is most disappointing. The total muster of these Infantry corps has been 1,168 lass than for the previous year, when they were inspected generally by companies in their own halls at night, and proves very clearly the impossibility of getting a satisfactory number to put in even two or three hours in the field for battalion work. There are very rare cases of three or four battalions altogether in the Dominion, at the veiy large centres and therefore easily mobilised, where their exceptionally keen officers have been able to get a fair number of them out for week-end camps once or twice during the ysar, but the majority of the Infantry never put in a solid day's work in the field during the whole course of their service. There is no doubt whatever that this is an undeniable fact. I have the returns of the numbers certified as having earned capitation and being efficient according to the Act for all districts except one (which is not yet complete, though long overdue, and an average has been struck), and these show that about 5,600, and possibly more, will be paid for as alleged efficients, though, as stated above, only 2,528 paraded for inspection, and only 2,897 turned out for Easter. It is extremely improbable that 3,000 of those now on the strength have seen any work in daylight during the year, or, indeed, ever. This result out of a strength of over 6,000 and an establishment of over 7,400 is certainly most deplorable. There is not usually the marked difference either in appearance or in efficiency in drill between the companies forming a battalion of Infantry (certainly those battalions situated at large centres) that is so noticeable often between the squadrons composing a regiment of Mounted Rifles, as the former do at any rate get together much oftener for battalion drill and ceremonial parades in the towns, and their Commanding Officers have more frequent opportunities of inspecting them and working them up to one standard. The Infantry have also many more opportunities than isolated squadrons and companies have of seeing and being seen by other troops, and this also tends to regularity and uniformity in dress, turn-out, drill, &c, as a rule. In the majority of cases the battalion drill well enough for all practical purposes. With the exception of the Easter camp that I attended (Oringi) I have had no fault to find with the discipline at my inspections, and I have found on all occasions all ranks most keen and anxious to learn their work in the field. On a number of occasions I have been most agreeably surprised at the state of efficiency they have attained and the aptitude they have shown in the field considering the very limited opportunities they have of learning and practising. This proves clearly what could be done if only they could get a reasonable period of continuous training in the field under efficient instructors. Without this they can never be efficient for the work they may some day have to do. I much regret to have to add that the men now enrolling in the town corps generally are much younger than was the case formerly, and that the physique is undoubtedly not as good as it was. It is so noticeable that I have often heard it referred to by the general public. Until recently the regulation* provided that the Infantry should, in order to earn capitation, encamp by battalions or companies for at least six days, or, rather, nights. As the men all went to their ordinary work during the day and only drilled in the evening and in some cases the morning also, it was considered that the camps were not worth the expenditure, and they were discontinued. There is no doubt that as regards the amount of field-work done they were practically worthless, but they did certainly afford the officers an opportunity of disciplining and drilling their commands which the} 7 cannot now obtain, and also gave all ranks a chance of learning camp routine and duties which they do not now get. The Infantry have now no training camp at all—indeed, they need never sleep under canvas ; and the effect of this must be to make it much more difficult to obtain order and discipline amongst those who do attend sudh camps'as are held at Easter. Non-combatants.- — Field Hospital and Bearer Corps. The total muster of these corps during the year for my inspections has been 104, including those of the Wellington Company at the Easter camp. The enrolled strength is 209 and the establishment 260,

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Such work as they have had to do at manoeuvres has been satisfactorily carried out, and the corps should always be fit to do their duty in war, as all the officers are medical men and are therefore doing practically the same work as soldiers to which they have devoted years of training and which they practise every day of their lives. They deserve the more credit for this, as it is no change for them from their ordinary occupation. 'Defence Cadets. I have inspected forty-seven cadet corps, with a total enrolled strength of 2,526 at date of inspection, and an establishment of 2,920. The number paraded for inspection was 1,905. Two of these corps were Garrison Artillery Cadets and the remainder Infantry. Many of them have turned out with the adult corps for field-work, and others have been inspected separately. In all cases they have mustered well and worked well, and are, I consider, in a satisfactory condition generally. I am particularly glad to be able to say that the two corps which I reported adversely upon last year in every way, pulled themselves up to the standard of the rest, and there is no fault now to be found with them specially. They are all throughout very much in earnest and doing good work. I should like to suggest, however, that, as their training should form part of their education, I am sure it would be well if in all cases it could be done in school-time and not play-time. The result would be, lam sure, that they would be keener still. In view of the contemplated formation of Officers' Training Corps at universities and senior schools, on my recent visit to Wanganui Collegiate School I obtained permission from the headmaster to have an hour's talk to the cadets on field-work the evening before my inspection. That they were keen is shown by their asking for more, and Mr. Empson very kindly afforded me an opportunity for another hour next morning. In the afternoon they went out on to suitable country and practised what we had been discussing, and the result was so gratifying and all the boys so enthusiastic that I feel certain the success of these training corps, provided they are managed in the best possible way, is assured. Rifle Clubs. The number of enrolled members of these clubs at the end of the Volunteer year was 3,697. At Easter efforts were made to induce the Rifle Clubs to go into camp for two days' training at convenient centres to enable them to at least learn some of the rudiments of soldiering, and so fit themselves to take their share in the defence of the country. They were offered a small personal payment, besides rations. Out of the whole Dominion a total of 77 turned out (all in Wellington), and 3,620 did not. I need say little more about that experiment. Many things have small beginnings, and in the distant future it is possible they may turn out in sufficient numbers and for sufficient time to make it worth the expenditure, but the prospects at present are not hopeful, to say the least. Arms and Equipment. There are now 4,000 of the new short rifles in the Dominion, of which 2,000 are on issue to the Mounted Rifles in the South Island. The remainder are, I understand, to be shortly issued to the Mounted Rifles in the North Island. In my last report I pointed out that mess-tins and waterproof sheets were required by the Force. Three thousand mess-tins and four thousand waterproof sheets have already been issued to Officers Commanding Districts for the use of troops. Clothing. I can only repeat my remarks in my last report, that, although the whole Field Force practically is now in possession of khaki service dress, the appearance is quite spoilt by the various shades of colour and makes of uniform. Greatcoats should certainly be supplied by some means throughout the Force. In many cases, but especially in nearly all Cadet corps, the small caps worn are entirely unsuitable for field-work, as they afford no protection whatever from sun or rain. The boots, which are their own private property, are largely entirely unsuitable, most particularly those worn by many men in town Infantry corps. They are more fit for dancing than field-work, and I am sure increase the number of sick in camp in wet weather. Standard and System of Training. Officers and N.C.O.t. In the annual report of the Council of Defence for the year ending 28th February, 1908, under the "Department of the Chief of the General Staff" on page 4, is a table showing the number of officers who have attended courses of instruction during the previous year, for periods varying from one to ten days, throughout the Dominion, the total number of officers being given as 175. Also the statement is made that courses of six days' continuous training will be held at the various centres for senior and junior officers and for N.C.O.s for the ensuing year. The following statement also appears in the above report: "The results of the past year bid well for future improvement in the education of officers for the present year. With improvement in the leaders they will in turn train their rank and file, and greater efficiency will be assured." The facts expressed in the latter sentence are, of course, undeniable. It is, however, much to be regretted that the hope expressed in the former sentence has not been realised.

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v During the past year not one, single class or course of instruction under the Headquarters Instructional Staff lias been carried out either for officers or N.C.O.s, owing, I understand, to its having been found impossibly to get sufficient numbers to attend. In three districts District Instructional Classes (under the Officer Commanding District and his A.A.G. alone in the other) have been held, and in the other two districts (Wellington and Nelson) no classes have been held. These District Classes were all held in the evenings only, and, I believe, all indoors. The duration of the classes varies from one to four nights in Auckland District, five and six nights in Otago District, to twice weekly (for junior officers only) during July and August and October and November in Canterbury District. Training of Officers. The total number of officers attending was —Auckland, 15; Otago, 33; Canterbury, 9: total for the Dominion, 57. The above may be summed up as follows: — (1.) No Headquarters classes of instruction whatever have been held during the past year. (2.) No classes of instruction at all have been held in daylight or in the field. (3.) Only 57 in the Dominion have attended classes at all out of a total of 1,347 Volunteer officers on the strength of the Forces (and then only at night) for the past year, whereas for the year previous 175 officers attended continuous courses of from one to ten days. No one, I presume, will deny that a Force cannot possibly increase or even retain its efficiency if the officers are not trained, and the above facts are more eloquent than any comment of mine can be. The above remarks apply to the Field Force, not to the Coast Defence Force or Garrison Artillery, the officers and N.C.O.s of which can be, and are generally, trained to a very satisfactory state of efficiency under existing conditions and with the time at their disposal. I have clearly stated my reasons for saying this in my two previous annual reports, and need not repeat them in full. Shortly they are because they train where they will fight, if they are ever called upon to fight; their peace training closely resembles the work they will be called upon to do in war; they are stationary, not a mobile force; and they have a much larger proportion of thoroughly competent instructors (the R.N.Z.A.) than any other arm of the service. It is quite different with the officers and N.C.O.s of the Mobile Field Force, and they can never as a whole become efficient in the time now devoted to their training and without opportunities for instruction and practice in the field. Training generally. The preceding remarks on the training of officers of the Coast Defence Force and Mobile Field Force apply with equal force to the rank and file, except that, of course, officers in any walk of life require much more training than their men. The men of the G.A.V. are, with their officers, trained to a satisfactory state of efficiency. I called attention in my two last reports to the lack of —indeed, in many cases the entire absence of —field-training of the Field Force, and there has been no alteration since in the amount of work demanded, with the single exception that those squadrons of Mounted Rifles which had ceased to work during their camps except in the morning and evening have been ordered to work in the daytime. With the exception of the mobilisation for my inspections there has been generally no increase in the number of regimental or battalion parades for field-work or in the mobilisation for training the various arms of the service to work together. It would, moreover, be out of the question to expect that the Field Force as a whole could work satisfactorily until the various smaller units of which it is composed have been trained to their own work by themselves. The proper object of manoeuvres is not to train the smaller units, much less the individuals of which they are composed, but to apply the most severe test practicable in peace to the training they fuive received, and to train the commander and staff. It is therefore obvious that, as most of the units of which our Field Force is composed como to manoeuvre camps (such as Easter) practically without any preliminary field training (indeed, it is invariably the case that an enormous proportion of the men are absolutely raw recruits), it is impossible under present conditions to hope for satisfactory results, and the time and money are to a large extent wasted. There is only one way to attain to anything like efficiency in a Force—namely, first to train the recruits as recruits, then the companies as companies, battalions as battalions, and so upwards. The bulk of the Field Foroe is, and always will be, Infantry, and I do not think the fact has been grasped that an infantryman, and, indeed, officer, can now under our regulations be called efficient and paid capitation for the year, without spending one single whole day in the field and without ever going into a camp at all. All that is required is that he should, in addition to a small number of evening drills in a hall, put in three afternoon parades in the year. Without any other work or instruction, except target shooting, he can remain a so-called efficient soldier as long as he remains in the Force. As regards preliminary field training the rest of the Field Force is in a slightly better position. The Mounted Rifles get seven days' continuous training in camp ; the Field Artillery and Field Engineers have to camp for fourteen days continuously, but only work in the mornings and evenings, and go to their ordinary occupations during the day; the Field Artillery, however, get one, and sometimes two, days in the field at their annual practice. These three arms do at any rate get some training in camp routine and discipline, which is not compulsory for infantry.

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Musketry Training and Judging Distance. The one object in view on which all attention must be concentrated in the musketry training of the Forces is preparation for the demands of war. It should be clearly recognised that the rifle-shooting, upon which the country is expected to spend large sums of money, must be part of the military preparation for the whole Force, and not merely a sport and accomplishment for a few experts. There is no doubt that our musketry training has been (in common with the rest of the Empire), and still is, carried out as if the sport and accomplishment of the expert was still of more importance than military preparation in its true meaning. Only in the British Empire and in China is the bull's-eye target or the fixed target, purposely made conspicuous by a large artificial background, used for anything but the most elementary training. This subject is receiving great and earnest attention at Hythe, and no doubt we shall soon obtain the results of the tests carried out and experience gained there, and should then be in a position to remodel our musketry regulations so as to insure that musketry training is carried out as far as is possible to insure good shooting under war conditions. I have found that the practice of judging distance is almost entirely neglected. There is nothing of greater value in the field, and the successful result of rifle-shooting in war often depends upon it. I cannot too strongly emphasize the necessity for-insisting on this training. All men should be carefully instructed and practised in judging distance under varied conditions, but there are some men who have a natural aptitude and are interested in it, and many who can never be very successful. I would suggest that a few specially selected men of the former class in each unit should be encouraged to make themselves as perfect as possible in this work, in order that they may become really expert and reliable judges of distance of all sorts of objects under any conditions, and that it be made worth their while to do so by such rewards as are now given for special efficiency in other branches. Tactical Exercises and Manceuvres. As I have explained already in various portions of this report, my inspections this past year have, wherever possible, taken the form of tactical exercises or manoeuvres in the field. I may here be permitted to quote the definitions of the above, as defined in a Memorandum on Training recently issued by the War Office, London : — " ' Tactical exercises ' are defined as operations against a skeleton Force, the initiative of the Commander of which is limited, so as to allow the exercise to be carried out in accordance with the wishes of the officer directing the operations." " ' Manoeuvres ' are defined as operations between opposing Forces or against a skeleton Fonje, in which the Commanders are allowed freedom of action within the limits of the scheme." In several cases the knowledge and ability of the Commanders and staffs to understand what was required, and to handle their troops in a proper manner to attain the desired object (considering their limited opportunities for learning and practising this art), in others the ability to learn and aptitude for the work if given a proper opportunity to learn, and in all cases the keenness, enthusiasm, and desire to do their best of such as did attend of all ranks and all arms, have been exceedingly gratifying, and are the clearest possible proof of what splendid results we could get if only sufficient numbers could be induced by any means to train for a sufficient time. The officers and men who come out are the enthusiasts, who willingly give their service to their country, and no praise can be too high for them in return for their unselfish sacrifice, especially when the only return they get in many cases is the jeer of their fellows who do nothing. In spite of this it is my duty to record my absolute conviction, which is that, owing entirely to want of opportunity to learn their work in the field from various causes, neither the Field Force as a whole in any district, nor any unit of which it is composed, can be honestly called efficient all round to deal with the varied situations with which it might be reasonably expected to cope in war. In peace, work in the field without criticism is worse than useless as a rule, because faults and mistakes are not recognised, and are repeated next time. In war, bullets to a great extent take the place of umpires, and the mistakes are generally made apparent by the result. When criticizing field-work I have always tried to point out (as well as showing the mistakes) how, in my opinion, improved methods could have been adopted, and I have always found that my remarks were taken entirely in the spirit in which they were intended, which is for the good and improvement of the Force.as a whole. lam satisfied that all ranks have recognised that I have nothing but praise to give to the men who try to learn their work, and I thoroughly understand their difficulties. My criticisms are in the direction of showing the absolute impossibility of attaining efficiency in the field without training and practice for all; and I take it that is an important part of the Inspector-General's duty, contained in the direction to " Watch over the military system, and bring to light its defects." Briefly, the faults which have been, on the whole, most apparent in the conduct of the exercises and manoeuvres have been, — (l.j In very many cases there has been little knowledge of the use and effects of fire, field-gun, machine-gun, and rifle. (2.) The knowledge possessed of the " service of protection " is not sufficient, and this work has not been practised. (3.) Signalling in the field practically does not exist, except in the specially trained corps at District Headquarters, and even in some cases there is backward. (4.) The orders issued and the reports received in the field are often practically worthless. With regard to the former they should be as short and clear as possible, and should make plain to the subordinate as much as is necessary for him to know

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of his Commander's intention, the enemy, and what he is expected to do to help his Commander's scheme, but not how he is to do it in detail. It is no time to begin to learn to swim when one falls overboard, and, if an officer cannot command his own unit under all circumstances that may arise, long-winded orders in detail in the presence of the enemy will not render him fit to do so. I have found the orders often much too involved and too full of detail that the subordinate ought to know—probably because the senior issuing them was aware, or afraid, that the junior did not know; but this only points to the necessity for progressive training, first of small and then of larger units. (5.) Generally the forces have got much too scattered, leaving on several occasions hardly any main body at all, and have got quite out of touch and unworkable. (6.) I have frequently been surprised to find at manoeuvres that officers have shown an extraordinary tendency to "take up a position," as they term it—arrange to dig themselves in, and often scatter their forces without communication, and so render the whole immobile, and this, too, without any reliable knowledge of the enemy's whereabouts or intention. It should be realised that "the soundest defence is attack " whenever possible, especially for our forces. Conclusion. In conclusion, sir, I should like to point out that I am certain it is not for what is commonly referred to as "want of encouragement to the Volunteer Force" that it is not in a better state as regards efficiency Ever since I first joined the Force more and more so-called encouragement has been given, almost year by year, in the shape of increased camp and other allowances personal payments for daylight parades and for Easter Camp, pay for efficiency for various grades in the different arms, Ac," free travelling on railways, and numerous other concessions, and less work has been demanded in return in order that a man may be called efficient. I think that in return for concessions more work should always be demanded. I have, &c, R. H. Davies, Colonel, The Right Hon. the Minister of Defence. Inspector-General, New Zealand Forces.

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