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Honours and Awards : British Since Ist June, 1948, His Majesty the King lias been graciously -pleased to give orders for the following appointments to be granted to New Zealand Regular Force personnel:— (a) Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) — Major-General N. W. McD. Weir, C.8., C.8.E., Generals List. (b) Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (0.8. E.) — Temporary Colonel J. I. Brooke, N.Z. Regiment. (c) Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) — Major and Quartermaster C. H. Kidman, M.M., Supernumerary List. Senior Commander E. Gray, N.Z.W.A.A.C. Captain and Quartermaster L. Mossong, Supernumerary List. Junior Commander M. E. Steel, N.Z.W.A.A.C. Lieutenant and Quartermaster R. J. Healey, Supernumerary List. Warrant Officer (Class I) H. R. Sigley, N.Z. Regiment. (d) The award of the British Empire Medal (B.E.M.) — Temporary Warrant Officer (Class II) A. W. S. Murray, N.Z. Regiment. Temporary Warrant Officer (Class II) F. E. Donovan, N.Z. Regiment. Sergeant R. W. Coe, R.N.Z.A. Sergeant C. E. Gleeson, R.N.Z.E.M.E. Overseas Courses of Instruction The practice of sending officers and other ranks to be trained overseas has been continued, the number leaving to attend schools and courses of instruction in the United Kingdom during the year being seven. In addition, one officer attended an advanced Artillery course in the United States of America. This practice makes it possible for officers and other ranks to keep closely in touch with developments in military thought and organization and helps to ensure up-to-date standards of training. The Army School A continuous series of courses was held at the Army School, Trentham, for officers and other ranks of the Regular Force. This included an eleven weeks' O.C.T.U. Course, the first to be held for the purpose of selecting women officers for the Regular Force. A course of three weeks duration was held at Army School during February-March, at which six of the more senior of the Army Department's civilian staff underwent training designed to impart a background of military knowledge, thus better fitting the civilian staff officers for their part in the administration of the Army. Royal Military College of Australia The policy of training a considerable proportion of the future officers of the Regular Force at the Royal Military College of Australia is being continued. Five Staff Cadets from New Zealand graduated at the end of 1948 and have since been granted their commissions. The number of New Zealand Staff Cadets now training at the College is twenty-two, including ten who entered at the beginning of 1949. A good response to recruiting has made it possible to fill all the vacancies at the College allotted to New Zealand with young men of an excellent type. An important development during the year was the Government's decision to bear the total normal cost, part of which formerly fell on parents, of maintaining Cadets at the College. Thus, all Cadets now enter the College on an equal financial footing.

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