5

H.—l9

13. Cadets. fhe discipline and efficiency of the Senior Cadets have in many cases shown a great improvement, and the interest taken in the, work has been most praiseworthy. The steadiness and efficiency of many of the companies show that all ranks are aiming al a creditable standard of efficiency, The large number of officers and non-commissioned officers who have joined tin' Expeditionary Force has naturally made the question of efficient instruction more difficult. Fortunately, a, great many officers and non-commissioned officers have attended the instructional tours held during the year, and are in a position to give up-to-date and efficient instruction. This fact, combined with the general keenness of all ranks, has resulted in a satisfactory standard of efficiency. The training of Cadets at secondary schools was not carried out during the year, owing to the unsettled conditions continuing. 14. Officers of the New Zealand Forces serving with-the Imperial Army. The officers of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and New Zealand Staff Corps who were in England at the outbreak of war, and who were employed with the Imperial Army, arc now serving with the New Zealand Forces, with the exception of Brigadier-General G, S. Richardson, C.M.G., attached to the War Office, London, as Dominion Representative and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand Troops in the United Kingdom; and Brigadier-General R. 11. Davies, C.8., now commanding the 20th Division, Imperial Forces. Colonel R. Logan still retains his position as Administrator in Samoa. 15. Staff Colleges. The Staff Colleges at Camberley and Quetta were closed on I he outbreak of war, and consequently no candidates were admitted. 16. Royal Military College of Australia. There are at present twenty Staff Cadets from New Zealand at the Royal Military College of Australia. Ten of this number joined this year. The 1913 Cadets, three in number, were withdrawn in their third year, and they are now employed in the training-camps. The 1914 Cadets were withdrawn in April, 1916, and are at present on leave, on expiry of which their services will be utilized in the training-camps. The New Zealand. Cadets arc holding their own, and have shown up very well at the College. One Staff Cadet of the 1915 batch is top of his year at the College, and another is third. 17. Royal Military College, Sandhurst. During the year one candidate sat for the entrance examination to the above College and passed, and has left to join the College. Two candidates nominated by His Excellency the Governor have recently sailed for England and will sit for examination there. 18. Examination of Officers for Promotion. (a.) Officers of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and the New Zealand Staff Corps. Since the outbreak of war there has been no written examination for officers of the above corps, but one officer of the Royal New Zealand Artillery passed his practical examination. (b.) Territorial Officer*. In August, 1915, 88 officers presented themselves for examination, and of ihesc 50 passed. 20 failed in one subject, I in two subjects, and 17 in four subjects. In February, 1916, 67 officers sat and 26 passed : 27 failed in one subject, 7 in two subjects. 3 in three subjects, and 4 in all subjects. In the examination in practical and oral work from Ist June, 1915, to Ist April. 1916, the following officers qualified in the ranks as shown : 6 for Lieut.-Colonel, 3 for Major, 24 for Captain, 47 for Lieutenant, and. 142 for 2nd Lieutenant. This makes a total number of 740 officers who have presented themselves for examination since the incorporation of the scheme of universal training, and 426 have passed—a percentage of 57-58. 19. Examination for First Appointment to Commissions. In August, 1915, 247 candidates sat for the above examination, and only 36 passed. In February, 1916, 246 candidates sat and 62 passed, an improvement on the previous examination. These results can only be considered as unsatisfactory. Since August, 1915, 232 probationary 2nd Lieutenants and non-commissioned officers at the various camps have qualified for commissions under this examination. 20. Staff, District, and Regimental Exercises. In addition to the ordinary instructional exercises, it has been found possible to hold a number of Staff and district exercises during the year. These have been held at various centres throughout the Dominion, and have been well attended. Particularly has this been the case with, the Wellington and Canterbury Districts. Each of these districts held seven courses of instruction, at which over four hundred officers and non-commissioned officers in each district were given the latest instruction.