7

H.—l9

Fifty-eight officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps have proceeded on active service. Of these, two were killed in action and four died of wounds or other causes. Nine officers have been returned invalided to New Zealand. It is not intended to make any new permanent appointments in the New Zealand Staff Corps while the war lasts, except from Cadets at the Royal Military College of Australia. If at the conclusion of the war any vacancies exist appointments will be made from those officers of the Territorial Force and Expeditionary Force who have rendered good and efficient service at the front or within New Zealand, both classes being given full and equal consideration. In the meantime vacancies that may be caused by officers of the Staff Corps proceeding to the front are temporarily filled by returned Expeditionary Force and Territorial officers. As the establishment now authorized is not deemed sufficient to meet present and future requirements, an increase in the various ranks is at present under consideration. 28. New Zealand Permanent Staff. The following is now the establishment: — Sub-area sergeant-majors ... ... ... .. ... ... 142* Regimental quartermaster-sergeants (including two for New Zealand Railway Battalions) ... ... ... ... ... ... 31 Engineer instructors ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 Field Ambulance instructors ... ... ... ... ... 4 Army Service Corps instructors ... ... ... ... ... 4 Group quartermaster-sergeants ... ... ... ... ... 18 Total ... .„. ... ... ... 211. One hundred and six warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the Permanent Staff have proceeded on active service, sixteen of whom have either been killed in action or died of wounds or disease, and eighteen have been returned to New Zealand. As in the case of the New Zealand Staff Corps, no permanent appointments will be made during the period of the war, and vacancies to be filled will be considered at the conclusion of the war on the same lines as outlined above. An increase in the present establishment is found to be necessary, and is now under consideration. In the meantime every effort is being made to allow officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps and Royal New Zealand Artillery, and non-commissioned officers of the Permanent Staff and Royal New Zealand Artillery, an opportunity to go on active service with the Expeditionary Force, 29. New Zealand Medical Services. Surgeon-General R. S. F. Henderson, M.8., K.H.P., from the Royal Army Medical Corps, has since his arrival in New Zealand performed excellent work in organizing the Medical Services, and in bringing about a general co-operation of the Medical Services throughout the Dominion. Results have shown bow fortunate the State has been in securing his services at a time like the present. He reports that on the whole sufficient Medical Officers have- been available for duty this year in the annual training-camps, as advantage has been taken in some instances of the services of returned Medical Officers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who, although unfit for active service, were fit for camp duties. The work in camps has been carried out satisfactorily, especially as regards sanitation, which shows that Medical Officers appreciate the great importance of this work. The Field Ambulance training has this year been conducted in some instances at the Ambulance training centre at Awapuni Camp, Palmerston North, along with the New Zealand Medical Corps, who were being trained for active service. The result has been satisfactory, and in future it is proposed to have permanent training centres for Field Ambulances carried out on the same lines. The health of the troops in training-camps has been above the average. With a view to organizing the Territorial Medical Services on a proper basis it is recommended that — A whole-time Medical Officer be from time to time appointed on the Headquarters Staff as Director-General, with rank of Colonel, and thai a Deputy Director of Medical Services be obtained from the R.A.M.C., with rank of Lieut.-Colonel, to assinl (he above and tour and lecture in camps. A Quartermaster from the R.A.M.C. be appointed in charge of the Rase Medical Stores to assist in the D.G.M.S.'s office and to also assist in training. The term " Principal Medical Officer " of a district be abolished, and the title " Assistant Director of Medical Services" be adopted in its place; also that a Deputy Assistant Director of* Medical Services be attached to each district as Sanitary Officer, in order to bring the organization into line with the Imperial system. A Medical Officers' Training Corps is being organized at the Otago University, on the same footing as those in the universities in Great Britain, to enable medical students to fake their places as properly trained Medical Officers when their services as such are required.

* Twenty-nine of these are utilized as regimental sergeant-majors and eight as brigade sergeant-majors at. camps, and there are eighteen employed as clerks on duties in connection with returned sick and wounded soldiers.