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1929. NEW ZE A L AND.

DEFENCE FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE FORCES.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

REPORT. The Hon. Minister of Defence. Sir, — Ist June, 1929. I have the honour to submit the following report on the New Zealand Defence Forces under my command, for the period Ist June, 1928, to the 31st May, 1929. 1. N.Z. PERMANENT FORCES. During the year the following changes have taken place : — (a) Commands and Staff. Brigadier W. L. H. Sinclair-Burgess, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., Chief of the General Staff, was appointed A.D.C. to the King on the 12th October, 1928. Major T. Farr, D.5.0., M.C., R.N.Z.A., was appointed A.A.G. at General Headquarters. Major H. C. Glendining, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., was appointed A.A. & Q.M.G., Auckland. Major W. G. Stevens, R.N.Z.A., having arrived from the Staff College, Camberley, was appointed O.C. R.N.Z.A., Central Command, Palmerston North. Major P. H. Bell, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., on return from Samoa was appointed Staff Officer in Charge No. 4 Regimental District, Hamilton. (b) N.Z. Permanent Air Force. Major L. M. Isitt, N.Z.P.A.F., was appointed O.C. N.Z. Air Base, Hobsonville, Auckland. Captain H. B. Burrell, from the N.Z. Air Force (Territorial), was commissioned in the rank of Captain in the N.Z.P.A.F., and appointed Pilot at Wigram Aerodrome. (c) Retirements and Resignations. Majors D. B. Blair. D.5.0., M.C., N.Z.S.C., and F. A. Wood, M.C., N.Z.S.C., having reached the retiring-age, were placed on superannuation. Captain H. H. Whyte, M.C., N.Z.A.0.C., resigned. (id) Death. I regret having to record the death of Lieut.-Colonel C. E. Andrews, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., A.A. & Q.M.G., Northern Command, who died suddenly on the 26th November, 1928. (e) Military Education. Brigadier W. L. H. Sinclair-Burgess, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., A.D.C., N.Z.S.C., visited England during the year for six months, and attended Army, Command, and Divisional manoeuvres, with particular attention to the training and operations of the Experimental Armoured Force and the progress of mechanization in the British Army. He also visited many training establishments and brought back much useful information. It is only by personal touch and experience of this kind by senior officers that the New Zealand Forces can keep abreast of modern thought and development in military matters.

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