f1.—19

4

(b.) Signal Units. The Signal units are efficient and have done good work during the training year, despite the lack of equipment. The discipline has been good, and all ranks have displayed great keenness. (c.) Railway Battalions. The work and training of the Railway battalions has been carried on throughout the year in a most creditable manner. The shortage of experienced instructors has, in common with most branches of the service, proved a hindrance to efficient training, but every endeavour has been made to remedy this, in which effort all ranks have co-operated in a most satisfactory manner. In addition to Infantry work attention has been paid to elementary work in military engineering. A number of week-end camps have been held, and much valuable instruction has been obtained through their medium. Miniature rifle ranges have been provided by the Railway Department at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, all of which are proving a valuable adjunct in the training of the companies. Notwithstanding the difficulties and disabilities inseparable from training at such a time, the Railway battalions are making steady progress in their work and training, and the standard of efficiency attained is most creditable and satisfactory. (d.) Post and Telegraph Corps. Regular parades have been held in all chief centres, great attention, being paid to work of an elementary nature. To instil interest and to maintain efficiency week-end camps have been held wherever possible. Attendance at these camps has been on a voluntary basis, and has been exceptionally good. The camp equipment was loaned by the Post and Telegraph Department, while the expenses were borne by the men attending on a per capita basis. These camps haveincreased the interest of all ranks, and afforded an opportunity of conducting practical operations in the field. 9. Infantry. All ranks have done their best to become smart and efficient, and the keenness shown in last year's camps has again been most evident. A healthy spirit of rivalry between units is apparent, and certain battalions arc undoubtedly leading in efficiency, discipline, and smartness. The importance and value of sound individual instruction is generally recognized, especially by those officers who have kept up to date in their work and learned the lessons of the present war. To ensure all units working on the same system a syllabus of training was drawn up by Headquarters, which was rigidly adhered to. By this means and the praiseworthy efforts of officers and instructors a great deal of extremely useful work was compressed into the limited training. The importance of all officers gaining and retaining the personal touch with those under their charge, particularly when not in camp, cannot be too strongly emphasized. It was particularly noticeable that those battalions which insisted upon officers retaining close touch with their men throughout the year were in every way infinitely better disciplined and more efficient than was the case with those others in which less attention was paid to this essential point. The majority of the camps were visited by the Assistant Director of Military Training, who was able to observe the various standards of efficiency attained by units. Close attention was again paid to careful individual and elementary instruction, and the greatest credit is due to all ranks for the excellent manner in which the work was carried out. The discipline was exceedingly good. 10. Musketuy. The musketry returns have not yet been completed, consequently the standard reached cannot be ascertained. A definite opinion of the results is therefore premature, but it is expected that the standard will be somewhat lower than last year. This is to be expected, owing to various circumstances which could not be avoided or remedied, and the greatest credit is due to the musketry staff of units, who have worked hard to attain as high a musketry standard as possible. 11. Rifle Clubs. There are now 246 Rifle Clubs in the Dominion, totalling a strength of 7,928. This is a most satisfactory number. The registration of Mounted Rifle Clubs has produced good results. The clubs have contributed, both from their ranks and in other ways, to recruiting, and have been the means of training men who, while beyond the age necessary for the Reserve, wish to serve their country. Many of the clubs have been drilling and otherwise fitting themselves for active service. All the clubs have evinced a patriotic endeavour to help the Dominion, and have in many ways given expression to this desire. 12. General Training Section. During the year the General Training Section has been drafted into Territorial, units so far as has been found possible. Experience has shown the extreme difficulty of keeping trace of men belonging to this section.