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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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