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Secondare School Cadet Training A successful year's training has been carried out by Cadet units at secondary schools. Interest in training has been stimulated by the liberal issue of modern equipment to the schools and by the holding during the May vacation of courses of instruction attended by 190 officers and 794 Cadet non-commissioned officers. 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force Personnel Trai'mng. —Drafts of reinforcements for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have been despatched during the year in sufficient numbers to maintain the overseas Forces. As a rule these reinforcements receive only basic soldier training in New Zealand and complete their training overseas. Furlough Drafts. —During the year some 7,500 personnel have returned from Middle East to participate in the " Furlough " Scheme. A large percentage of these drafts has been exempted from further service because of medical unfitness or for reasons of personal hardship, &c. Personnel for Essential Industry. —Arrangements were recently made for the return of some thousands of personnel from the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific for direction to essential industry. The first drafts have already arrived in New Zealand. Home Guard As from 31st December, 1943, Home fiuard was placed on the "Reserve, and all training has been discontinued. Mapping and Survey The Lands and Survey Department has made further progress with military mapping, and of approximately 300 sheets in the standard series of maps, 109 have been published, whilst work on a further 44 sheets is Hearing completion. In addition to their military importance, the maps are of great value to certain State Departments and local authorities. Signals Willi the reduction in home-defence Forces the Army signals network has been contracted, enabling a number of lines and a quantity of equipment to be returned to the Post and Telegraph Department. This has afforded some relief to the civil communications, which had been strained considerably in meeting the requirements of the Armed Services. The reduction of signals activities has also effected considerable savings in personnel. The Signals Experimental Establishment has undertaken experimental work and developed special equipment for use by the New Zealand Forces in the Pacific. As this work is now completed the Establishment has been disbanded. Est a blishments Following the re-organization, Army Inspecting Officers were appointed to examine all domestic establishments. These officers are responsible direct to Army Headquarters, and arc constantly reviewing the establishments to ensure that the best possible means are utilized in conserving man-power. Considerable reductions have been made in New Zealand Temporary Staff and Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, and the releasing of personnel to civilian occupations is still proceeding. Employment of Territorial Force for Harvesting and Similar Work During the 1943-44 harvesting season use was made of members of the Territorial Force to assist farmers and others in harvesting their crops. Men were called up for X>eriods of twenty-eight days, and were employed in such work as the harvesting of grain, fruit-picking, and potato-digging. Army Education Welfare Service The Army Education Welfare Service has been functioning for more than a year, and lias served all Army units at home and overseas. It also supplies study courses and current affairs bulletins and certain other facilities to the Navy and Air Force. Army Education Welfare Service has now published nineteen study courses in addition to weekly current affairs material. Women's Army Auxiliary Corps Recruiting for the New Zealand Women's Army Auxiliary Corps has now ceased except for small numbers accepted for overseas service, and the strength of the Corps has been substantially reduced.

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