H—l9

9

35. Detention. During the period from the Ist May, 1915, to the 30th April, 1916, sixty-three men of the Territorial Force have been placed in military detention, under the provisions of the Defence Amendment Act, 1912, as compared with 111 for the previous twelve months. Six were committed twice and two three times. 36. Prosecutions. Appendix B gives a return of prosecutions under the Defence Act from the Ist May, 1915, to the 30th April, 1916. During the above period the percentages of convictions to prosecutions were as follows: Territorials, 8435; Senior Cadets, 8656. (The percentages for the same period last year were —Territorials, 9050; Senior Cadets, 8L87.) Compared with the figures for the previous year the numbers prosecuted during the twelve months ended the 30th April, 1916, show a decrease of 192 in the Territorial Force and 96 in. the Senior Cadets. 37. Posting. The annual posting for the year 1915-16 was carried out in accordance with the amended system detailed in my last annual report. Posting for the forthcoming year will be conducted on the same lines, and will be made simpler by a recent amendment to the Defence Act, which provides that Senior Cadets will be posted to the Territorial Force on June of the year in which they attain the age of eighteen years, and that Territorials and members of the General Training Section will pass to the Reserve in June of the year in which they reach the age of twenty-five. 38. Registration. The total number of registrations for military training recorded since the inception of the scheme of universal service up to the 30th April, 1916, is given in detail hereunder : ; — Territorials. Senior Auckland District ... ... ... 10,098 15,706 25,804 Canterbury District ... ... ... 7,158 18,008 25,166 Otago District ... ... ... ... 6,700 12,750 19,450 Wellington District ... 9,154 20,985 30,139 Totals ... ... ... 33,110 67,449 100,559 39. Regulations and Publications. Regulations to provide for the formation and conduct of the New Zealand Dental Corps and the National Reserve have been issued during the past year. Certain amendments have also been made to the Financial Instructions and Allowance Regulations. The " Recruit's Handbook," for the guidance of those desirous of enlisting in the Expeditionary Force, and " Returned Soldiers' Handbook " have also been published. The latter contains the fullest information as to the treatment, allowances, privileges, and duties of the returned soldier, and copies are freely supplied to all concerned. 40. Chaplains. Officers of the New Zealand Chaplains' Department continue to render good service in the reinforcements and Territorial Force camps. Applications by chaplains for appointment to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have come in freely, and are greatly in excess of the requirements of the service. 41, National Reserve. The National Reserve is now organized throughout the Dominion on the basis of the regulations issued by this Department. A. considerable amount of time has been devoted to drill and training, and a fair percentage of members of the Expeditionary Force have come from the ranks of the' Reserve with an elementary knowledge of their new duties. Other methods of assisting the Defence Department during the present crisis are now being earnestly considered. 42. New Zealand Dental Services. The importance of a dental service for the troops has been recognized since the outbreak of war. Dentists were sent with the first Expeditionary Force to Samoa, and also with the Main Body and 2nd Reinforcements to Egypt. Several dentists were then appointed to the reinforcement camps to treat dental defects and disease amongst soldiers in camps before they were despatched abroad. The dental work in camps increased immensely, and, as a large number of recruits were being rejected on account of defective teeth, it was decided to organize a Dental Corps to cope with the work both in camps and at the recruiting centres. The New Zealand Dental Corps consists of— (1.) Administrative officers, who are attached to Headquarters, and are responsible for the organization and administration of the corps : (2.) Executive officers, who carry out the dental treatment of soldiers in the reinforcement camps and at the front, and who are assisted by dental mechanics, ranking aa non-commissioned officers, and by dental orderlies :

2-H. 19.