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(c.) That 30,000 stand of arms, rifles and carbines, of approved pattern, with necessary accoutrements, be obtained for the defence of the colony. (/.) That the supply of small-arms ammunition be augmented as soon as possible to the extent that would be necessary in time of war, and that the supply in each Volunteer District in the colony be constantly maintained by fresh supplies from time to time at that standard. (g.) That the present stock of bell tents, marquees, and camp equipment be increased so as to meet the requirements of the increased forces of the colony. (h.) That the whole of the Volunteer Force of the colony should be properly equipped, such equipment to include overcoat and waterproof sheet (to be the property of the corps). (i). That the term of enrolment of Volunteers for service should in future be three years. (j.) That Schools of Instruction be provided for Volunteer officers at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, at least; and that it be obligatory on officers and non-com-missioned officers to attend at one of such schools for instruction for such period and to pass such examination as shall be prescribed by regulations. (k.) That during camps of instruction Volunteers of all branches shall remain in camp during a period of seven whole days consecutively in each year, and shall be paid by the Government such wages in respect of such attendance as shall be prescribed by regulation. (I.) That it is expedient and necessary that suitable rifle-ranges be obtained in each Volunteer District where recommended by the Commander of the Forces. That the necessary legislation be passed to enable the Government to take the lands necessary for such rifle-ranges, such lands to be taken as provided by the Public Works Acts, the value of the lands so taken or injuriously affected, and the compensation in respect of other lands not taken but injuriously affected, to be assessed on the basis of the land-tax value, plus 10 per cent. That, except as above mentioned, upon any land being legally proclaimed a rifle-range, no property-owner or occupier shall thereafter have a right to any compensation in respect of such land being used as a rifle-range, nor thereafter be legally able to object to any such land being used as a rifle-range. And that the whole cost of maintaining rifle-ranges and erecting targets thereon shall be borne by the Government. (m.) That the existing payments for daylight parades of Volunteers be continued—a condition for payment being that one-half of the nominal strength of a company shall be present on parade. (n.) That any Volunteer who is absent from three Government parades consecutively without a certificate from the Volunteer medical officer of his corps, or leave in writing from the officer commanding his company, shall cease to be a member of the company, and shall not be eligible for enrolment in any other Volunteer company for a period of two years. (o.) That for garrison artillery and Volunteer submarine miners the annual capitation be £3 10s. instead of £2 10s. as at present. (p.) That the uniform and caps of the submarine branch of the service be restored to the pattern previously in use. (q.) That the medical branch of the Defence Forces requires to be reorganized, and your Committee recommend that the general medical list be purged by striking the names therefrom and cancelling the commissions of those medical officers who are unable to perform, or who have not hitherto performed, their Volunteer medical duties. That the necessary medical and surgical appliances requisite for the Defence Forces be procured and maintained. That proper arrangements should be made insuring that the necessary field and base hospitals be available in the event of the outbreak of hostilities, and that the requisite arrangements should be made with the principal hospital at each provincial centre for the reception of patients from the field hospitals in time of war. That the medical officer of each company should give lectures and instruction to a number of the members of his corps upon first aid to the injured. That Volunteer medical officers be remunerated for their time in attending camps of exercise according to a scale to be fixed by regulations. (r.) That the number and strength of bearer corps be increased, and that they be supplied with the necessary equipment, and that the necessary arrangements be made for the transport of wounded in case of hostilities. (s.) That proper arrangements should be made insuring that sufficient transport should be available to meet the case of a sudden outbreak of hostilities. Headquaetees Staff. 11. Your Committee are of opinion that the headquarters staff in each Volunteer district in the colony requires organizing, so as to put the same upon a more serviceable footing than at present exists. Impeeial Eeseeve. 12. With respect to the formation of an Imperial Eeserve, your Committee recommend that the following provisions shall apply: It shall be open to all officers and men belonging to the ordinary Volunteer corps to become efficient in both services and to enlist for three years in the Eeserve. The officers and men so enlisting shall receive a fixed sum of £5 per annum as a personal payment on being certified as efficient, and shall be required to go into camp at stated periods for, say, two weeks in each year, the drills in camp as a Volunteer to count as part of the
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