35

A.—4,

XI. The changes necessary for the better government, inspection, and general organization of the volunteer force throughout New Zealand, together with the expenditure required for its maintenance, to he enquired into. xii. The forces to be maintained—in time of war —for that portion of the defence scheme, which I propose to carry out forthwith, will be as follows :— (a.) For manning Batteries. Constabulary ... ... 100 officers and men. Naval Brigades ... ... 400 „ Volunteer Artillery at Dunedin 80 „ Total ... ... 580 „ (/>.) For Torpedo Boats. Naval Brigades—Bo officers and men. (c.) For Field Forces: ' Mounted detachments Field Artillery 2,400 officers and Volunteers v Engineers men. Infantry (d.) For Torpedo Corps. Volunteers—4o officers and men. The total forces to be maintained, in time of war, exclusive of the Torpedo corps, would therefore amount to 3,060 officers and men; and, in time of peace, the strength would be reduced to 2,150 officers and men. The annual expenditure required for the maintenance of these forces, in time of peace, would be as follows : — 1. Staff and Instructors [proportion chargeable to external defence] £2,000 2. Naval Brigades, 320 officers and men ... ... £5,000 3. Capitation allowance for Volunteers, including Garrison Artillery at Dunedin, and Torpedo Corps—2,l9o officers and men ... ... £6,000 4. Camps of Exercise—Annual supply of Ammunition —Contingencies ... ... ... £4,000 5. Custody of Stores (share of annual expenditure provided in military estimates) ... ... £500 Total ... ... ... £17,500