H.—l9

4

Promotion Kxaminati.oll,, May, 1911. (Under old Regulations.) Sixty-eight officers passed, 30 failed. Promotion Examination, November, 1911. (Under new Regulations.) Thirty officers passed in all subjects; 13 failed in one subject; 8 failed in two subjects; b failed in three subjects; 2 failed in four subjects : total failed, 29. Promotion Examination, March, 1912. Thirty-five officers passed in all subjects; 10 failed in one subject; 6 failed in two subjects; 1 failed in three subjects: total failed, 17. 10. Territorial Training-camps . All units of the Territorial Forces have completed their annual training of seven days in camp. The men being practically all recruits, the work done was only elementary; but the assembling of them in regimental, battalion, and artillery brigade camps proved most efficacious in establishing not only the regimental organization, but also an esprit de corps of which it is impossible to overestimate the value. In fixing the dates of the camps, the convenience of employers, the lateness of the harvest, the milking season, the end of the financial year, the Easter holidays, the convenience of the majority of the men, without sacrificing the interests of the minority, were all carefully considered in each district, and, though it was of course impossible to please everybody, I am satisfied that every possible effort was made to do so. In all cases where genuine hardship would have been inflicted on an individual or on his business by insistence on his attendance at his regimental camp leave from it was granted, and he was allowed to attend a later camp as a " casual." A similar concession was made in the case of any employer whose business might have been brought to a standstill by too many of his employees being taken away at the same time. But it must be remembered that half the value of the man's training is lost if he cannot do it with his own unit, and 1 earnestly trust that employers will in the future make every effort and sacrifice possible to enable their employees to go to the camps of their own regiments, &c. I personally visited nearly all the camps, and cannot speak too highly of the zeal, energy, and good will which 1 found everywhere on the part of both instructors and recruits. The progress made in the short time was, in consequence, far greater than 1 had anticipated, and confirms the opinion, which I have already expressed, that the youth of this country have a remarkable aptitude for military work. The general physique of the recruits was excellent, and their conduct exemplary. Many men who came into camp reluctantly left it unwillingly. The attendance throughout the Dominion averaged 8249 per cent., which, considering that we were dealing almost entirely with newly posted men, that the population is a very shifting one, and that since the original posting a large proportion of the men had changed their places of residence, must be considered most satisfactory. Every effort was made, within the limits of due economy, to study the comfort of the men, and though, owing to inexperience in issuing them, complaints were in a few instances made'of the insufficiency cf rations, 1 am satisfied that, on the whole, they were very well fed. In this connection 1 would like to express our gratitude to the Church of England Men's Society, the Young Men's Christian Association, various religious bodies, and the chaplains of all denominations for the great help they gave us with regard to the recreation of the men. The rule forbidding the introduction of liquor into camps was strictly observed, and, on the whole, most loyally carried out. In only one or two isolated instances was any attempt made to bring in liquor, and these were severely dealt with when discovered. Our warmest thanks are due to those landowners and racing and agricultural bodies who gave us the use of camping-grounds. Their names will be found in Appendix B. In very few cases has the Department had to pay for the hire of a camping-ground. His Excellency the Governor visited many of the camps, and expressed his entire satisfaction with the bearing of the men and the progress made. The summary of the camps held—(l) by units, (2) by camps—will be found in Appendices A and B. To enable those men who were unable for various reasons to attend a regimental camp extra "casual" camps were held. A total of 17,831 have done the week's training, and the large majority of them are looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to their next year's camp. 11. Pabadbs and Drills. As the training really only began in earnest with this year's camps, it is too early to be able to say definitely how the regulations on the subject and the scale have worked. Drill centres have been established wherever even a few Territorials, Senior Cadets, and Rifle Club men can be assembled together, and every effort has been made to minimize the difficulties and distances for them. Itineraries for instructors have been carefully worked out, and every drill centre has been visited as frequently as possible. The attendance, especially in the country districts, has been good, except in the case of Senior Cadets in certain of the towns. Many men and employers have said that attendance at parades and drills causes hardship, owing to the time taken in getting ready for and in going to and returning from them, and they would prefer that extra days at camp should take the place of some of the parades and drills laid down. It will be a matter for consideration and local adjustment whether —at any rate for those in the back districts where in winter the roads are practically impassable after dark, and in