H.—l9

11

27. Discipline. The discipline of the Territorial Force has been satisfactory during the past year, and there has been a still further reduction in the number of those prosecuted for offences under the Defence Act. The general discipline of the Cadets has also been satisfactory, but there is an increase in the number prosecuted under the Defence Act. This may be attributed, however, more to attention being paid to the detection of shirkers now that the temporary staffs have had time to settle down than to any real fall in the general standard of discipline. 28. Detention. Consequent upon failure to pay fines inflicted by a Magistrate for breaches of the Defence Act, thirty-nine Territorials and ten Senior Cadets were placed in military detention during the period from the Ist May, 1916, to the 30th April, 1917. Of the above, forty-two were committed for the first time, four for the second time, and three for the third time. 29. Prosecutions. Apjendix B gives a return of prosecutions under the Defence Act from the Ist May, 1916, to the 30th April, 1917. During the above period the percentages of convictions to prosecutions were as follows: Territorials, 8733; Senior Cadets, 79"37. (The percentages for the corresponding period of last year were—Territorials, 84 - 35; Senior Cadets, 81*87.) Compared with the figures for the previous period the numbers prosecuted during the twelve months ended 30th April, 1917, show a decrease of 61 in the Territorial Force, and an increase of 344 in the Senior Cadets. 30. Posting. The annual posting for the year 1916-17 was carried out on precisely the same lines as that of the previous year. In addition, it was found necessary to reinforce the Territorials by the transfer to that Force of all men on the strength of the General Training Section. The plan in the past has been to adjust the annual quotas in such a way as to produce a Territorial Force containing seven approximately equal classes of men (namely, those aged 18-19, 19-20, 20-21, 21-22, 22-23, 23-24, and 24-25) so that the inward draft each year would equal the number of those passing to the Reserve in the same year, plus a factor representing the wastage of the latter class during its seven years' colour service. Men not required to complete the annual quotas were posted to the General Training Section. The war has modified this materially; large numbers of Territorials have passed to the Expeditionary Force, and the General Training Section has been absorbed, and this year it is proposed to post the whole of Cadets available to the Territorial Force, whioh on the 30th April was 8" 102 below establishment.

Table of Postings for 1916-17.

31. Registration. Since the commencement of the scheme of universal training up to the 30th April, 1917, the total number of registrations recorded in each of the military districts is as given in detail hereunder. For' Territorial For Senior m . , Force. Cadets. Totals - Auckland District ... ... ... 10,442 20,067 30,509 Canterbury District ... ... ... 7,553 21,001 28,554 Otago District ... ... ... 6,794 14,204 20,998 Wellington District ... ... ... 9,773 24,452 34,225 Totals ... ... 34,562 79,724 114,286 32. Regulations and Publications. Further War Regulations to meet national emergencies consequent upon the continuance of a state of war, and Regulations under the Military Service Act. have been made from time to time by Orders in Council. Under War Regulations Boards of Trustees have been provided for the management and disposition of the business, property, and affairs of soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary

District. To Senior Cadets. To General Training Section. To To Territorials, j To Post and Telegraph. Total for District. Luckland lanterbury .. >tago Vellington . . 3,846 2,359 1,479 2,926 1,028 311 512 248 1,102 1,017 1,017 1,933 3 71 73 19 6,050 3,687 3,081 5,132 6 Totals .. 10,610 2,099 5,069 163 17,950