H.—l9.

2

SECTION I.—THE DOMINION SECTION OF THE IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF. 1. Drills and Parades. Drills and parades throughout the Dominion were somewhat disorganized in the early period of the war owing to the large percentage of the New Zealand Staff Corps and New Zealand Permanent Staff called up for active service with the Expeditionary Force. There is not sufficient variety included, in the drills as carried out by a large proportion of Territorial officers. This lack of variety is mainly due to the fact that officers commanding squadrons, companies, &c, do not work out beforehand carefully prepared programmes of progressive training. This matter is receiving attention. There is too great a tendency to adhere Co stereotyped work in drill-halls, instead of taking advantage of fine weather for outdoor training. There has been a still greater improvement in attendance during the past year and an improvement in discipline attributable mainly to the influence of the war. Drills and parades are necessarily confined to those men who can be home-trained and whose proximity to drill centres makes their attendance possible, but there can be no high degree of efficiency in units until every man belonging to a unit is compelled to undergo regular training. 2. Territorial Training-camps. The annual camps for the year were held by units. Attention was particularly devoted to squadron, company, &c, training in accordance with section 3 (11) of Training and Manoeuvre Regulations, 1913. The Garrison Artillery units did not go into annual camps, as their training was carried out when mobilized for duty on the coast defences in connection with the war. On the whole the weather during the period of the annual camps was excellent, but in some cases outbreaks of influenza interfered somewhat with the training. The localities of camps held throughout the Dominion are given in Appendix B. Thanks are due to the landowners who allowed the troops to camp and train on their lands. Information regarding these landowners is given in Appendix B. As regards the sites of camps, it is considered that economy should be exercised by selecting sites near to suitable water, so avoiding the necessity of laying pipes and erecting tanks. Money spent in this manner would be much better utilized in providing mess accommodation for the men. All units completed their annual training in camp before the end of May. As last year, Mounted Rifle regiments and country companies of Infantry went into annual camp four days before the remainder of the unit, and completed eleven days' training instead of seven. These four extra days' training were in lieu of a proportionate number of drills during the year. On the completion of the main annual camps casual camps were held at centres in each district for the instruction of casuals. The total attendance in the annual camps was 21,245, or 8434 per cent. This, compared with 83-31 per cent, last year is satisfactory, particularly when the scarcity of labour on account of the war is considered. The cause of the high percentage of attendance and the exceptionally high standard of discipline must be traced to the patriotic and soldierly spirit engendered by the war. It is regretted that, owing to the pressure of the work in connection with the war, the Commandant and Chief of the General Staff were unable to visit the whole of the camps throughout the Dominion. In accordance with instructions laid down in section 5 (1), Training and Manoeuvre Regulations, officers commanding squadrons, companies, &c, were required to prepare their programmes of training for the annual camps, but the programmes submitted were not always entirely suitable. It was noticed that, in the majority of units, men who had had no previous training whatsoever were put through squadron and company training. It is considered that in future these men would be better dealt with by being formed into a separate squadron or company in camp for elementary instruction under the Permanent Staff. Almost without exception throughout the camps of the Territorial Force during the present year the absence of officers and non-commissioned officers has been severely felt, but thanks are due to the officers of the Reserve List for the way in which they came forward to assist. Great credit is due to the depleted staffs in the districts for the efficient manner in which the training in the camps was carried out. The arrangements made for the attendance of Medical Officers at the various camps were satisfactory with one or two exceptions. Severe epidemics of influenza involved the abandonment of two camps. Sanitary arrangements of the camps were satisfactory. The various religious denominations were represented at the various camps, and among others the V.M.C.A., C.E.M.S., and Salvation Army had institutes in the majority of the camps. Thanks are due to them for the work which they did amongst the men and for the recreation they provided. 3. Concentration Camps. In accordance with the recommendations contained in Sir lan Hamilton's report, the country squadrons and companies were permitted to go into concentration camps for a period of eight days in lieu of the drills and parades required by the Defence Act. The attendance in these concentration camps was, however, voluntary and not compulsory. The results were on the whole satisfactory. The concentration camps have the demerit that touch is not maintained with men throughout the year, and that they are in a way lost to the Territorial Force accordingly.