H.—l9.

6. NEW ZEALAND ARMY RIFLE ASSOCIATION. Owing to financial considerations it was not possible for the New Zealand Army Rifle Association to hold its annual meeting during the training year 1930-31. In previous annual reports the value of these meetings has been fully emphasized, and it is essential that they be resumed when funds are available. They are a valuable test of the standard of weapon training attained by units, and experience has shown that the competition involved is a great stimulus to this important branch of instruction. 7. RIFLE CLUBS. The membership of Rifle Clubs increased during the year by 397. Seven clubs were disbanded and six new ones formed. The number and membership of clubs are shown in Appendix I. Service rifles are now issued on loan to reservists of the Territorial Force on their joining a Defence Rifle Club. The supply of free ammunition to Rifle Clubs was also increased, in order to encourage Territorials to join clubs during the period when training was partially suspended and so maintain their efficiency. The National Rifle Association held its annual meeting at Trentham in March last. 8. DEFENCE WORKS, MOBILIZATION DEPOTS, AND TRAINING-CAMPS, ETC. (a) Office Premises and Drill-halls, The General Headquarters Staff of the Defence Department has for many years been housed in quarters situated on Mount Cook, Wellington. During 1930 the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Act was passed, which vested in a Board of Trustees, as a site for the National Art Gallery, the Dominion Museum, the War Memorial Carillon, and Hall of Memories, an area of 9 acres 1 rood 30 perches, being part of the Mount Cook Reserve, occupied by the Defence Department. It consequently became necessary to vacate the buildings on this site, and the General Headquarters Staff has now been accommodated in a two-story building at the corner of Buckle and Taranaki Streets. The Ordnance Workshops, also formerly located at Mount Cook, have been moved to Trentham Camp. The drill-hall at Gisborne, destroyed by fire, is not being rebuilt at present. I am pleased to report that the drill-halls at Napier and Hastings were not damaged by the recent earthquake, and were able to be used for relief purposes. Command Headquarters at Auckland and Christchurch, previously accommodated in rented buildings, have now been transferred to drill-halls in the respective cities. The offices occupied by Central Command Headquarters at Palmerston North were destroyed by fire, and are not being rebuilt. The Headquarters has been transferred to Wellington, and is located at Buckle Street. Other buildings have been maintained in good order. (b) Mobilization Depots and Training-camps. Waikato Camp. —The maintenance of the buildings, previously undertaken by the Public Works Department, is being carried out by this Department. Further areas have been leased for grazing purposes, and the clearing of the property of noxious weeds and the general improvement of the land is being continued to the best advantage. Trentham Camp. —Owing to the reorganization, the maintenance of the buildings, &c, in this area, formerly undertaken by the Public Works Department, is now being carried out by the Ordnance Workshop personnel. Burnham Camp. —The maintenance of the buildings and the clearing of noxious weeds from the property is being carried out to the best advantage. (c) Rifle Ranges. Rifle ranges have been maintained in good order. 9. FINANCE. The total amount voted by Parliament for the year 1930-31, less credits-in-aid, was £332,200, which was to be reduced by economies to be effected during the year, £57,200, to the sum of £275,000. The actual net expenditure for the year amounted to £277,799, being £2,799 in excess of the net sum voted. The net expenditure on military and civil aviation for the year was £48,749, as compared with £55,102 expended during the previous year ; while for other Defence purposes the respective amounts were £229,050 and £389,726. Appendix II shows in tabular form the expenditure on Defence over the last five years. The authority for £5,000 per annum for the provision of gun-ammunition for practice and reserve, mentioned in the last annual report, has not been utilized during the year. Orders already placed in the United Kingdom for some of this ammunition have been cancelled. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, W. L. H. Sinclair-Burgess, Major-General, Commanding N.Z. Military Forces.

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