H.—l9

4

Territorial Force. Number liable for posting to Territorial Force on reaching age of eighteen. . 7,105 Actually posted to Territorial Force units .. .. .. .. 4,343 Number not posted ~ . . .. . . . . . . 2, 762 Reasons for non-posting of above : — (a.) Placed on Non-effective List owing to residence being more, than one hour's journey from established drill-centre .. .. .. 1,846 (&.') Medically unfit .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 415 (c.) Unfit for current year . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 (d.) Posting deferred owing to pending transfer . . . . . . 21 (c.) Retained as non-commissioned officers with Senior Cadets . . . . 166 (/.) Immigrants over twenty-one years transferred to Reserve . . . . 23 2,762 The Territorial Force organization remains the same as that given in last year's report, but units will be, reduced to a peace establishment, consisting of the full number of officers and noncommissioned officers and from 40 to 50 per cent, of other ranks. The reduction is being carried out by posting only such men as would be fit for service on mobilization, by limiting Territorial training to centres where not less than a troop or platoon can parade, as at smaller centres men cannot be trained beyond the stage they should have reached in the Cadets, and by allowing men to bo transferred to the Reserve after four years' efficient service, two of which may have been in the Cadets. The reduction in establishments will not improve the efficiency of units, which on mobilization would require a large number of Reservists to complete to war establishment and to replace such of the existing personnel as are found to be too young to stand the strain of active service. The Cadets in each regimental district are now organized, into battalions, which are affiliated with the Territorial battalions furnished by the district. Every effort is being made, to maintain Cadet training on as universal a basis as possible ; but some drill-centres had to be closed when the number of instructors was reduced, as it is worse than useless to hold parades unless competent instructors can be supplied. By reducing the number of parades, and by providing that in country districts the whole amount of training shall be consolidated into six consecutive whole-day parades, it is hoped that all except very small centres can be dealt with. Rifle Clubs, according to the Defence Act, are units of the Defence Forces ; but they could not be used as units in any fighting organization, while such members as would be fit for active service (which experience during the last war showed to be not more than 25 per cent.) would be liable to be called up to the Territorial Force as Reservists. The proper role of Rifle Clubs is to encourage rifle shooting, and only so far as they improve the potential defenders of the country in the use, of the service rifle as it would be used in war can any subsidy from the Defence vote be justified. The provisions in the Defence Act prescribing that Rifle Clubs are units of the Defence Forces, and prohibiting members of the Territorial Force from joining a Rifle Club, should therefore be repealed, and shooting should be encouraged by the sale of ammunition at reduced rates, by the free use of ranges when available, and by the issue of a limited number of railway passes to the nearest rifle range for practice and to approved rifle meetings ; but any concession, except tho first, should be limited to men who are of military age, who are fit for active service in the Territorial Force on mobilization, and who fire a short musketry course each year : Provided, however, that these limitations should not apply to men who have served with the N.Z. Forces in the field. The experience of the late war showed that the average New-Zealander, if physically fit, can soon be trained sufficiently to take his place in the ranks of a unit that has officers and non-commis-sioned officers who are capable of completing his instruction, but that officers and non-commissioned officers require a much longer and more thorough training ; also that any weakness in a unit was almost invariably due to lack of properly trained officers and non-commissioned officers. The aim of the Department is that the system of training shall be such as will develop the physique and the intelligence of the trainee, and improve him for civil life, as well as prepare him to defend his country if required ; this will be gradually progressive throughout the whole period of compulsory training, and can be carried out with the least possible inconvenience to the trainee or to his employer. During the period of Cadet training special attention is given to careful individual instruction to develop the physique, alertness of mind and body, knowledge of personal hygiene, and habits of punctuality, tidiness, and respect for authority, all of which are most important attributes of good citizenship. The reduced amount of training now prescribed is inadequate to produce a fully trained rank and file for the Territorial Force ; but, given average application and progress on the part of the trainee, it should fit him to take his place on an emergency in the ranks of his unit, and to quickly assimilate the further advanced training with his unit on mobilization. This standard is, however, not sufficient for the commissioned, warrant, and non-commissioned ranks, who on mobilization would have to complete the training of their men in addition to their routine duties. Training for the year commenced satisfactorily, though there was considerable disappointment at the decision not to hold unit camps ; but in November the programme of almost every unit was upset by the cancellation of authority for camps for officers and non-commissioned officers, by the retirement of over one-third of the instructors, and by the delay in completing the issue of the new rifles and equipment due to the reduced Ordnance personnel. Under these conditions it was not expected that much progress could be made. ; nevertheless, some Territorial units —notably among technical units and city battalions —managed to carry on satisfactorily and to maintain an esprit de