SECRET.
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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. March 11, 1896.
No. 133 R.
NEW SOUTH WALES.
085
W.O. No.
623
Report by the Military Commandant for the Year
1894.
Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.
The Report dealing with the state of the Military Forces of New South Wales in the year 1893 only came before the Colonial Defence Committee in April 1895, and its consideration was held over pending the receipt of the Report for 1894, which was then awaited. The latter Report, dated January 1895, was not referred to the Committee till the end of January, 1896.
The Committee have elsewhere pointed out the desirability of an earlier reference to them of Reports on which their advice is likely to be of assistance to the Australian Governments.
2. The Committee have noted with much satisfaction the very considerable improvements that have been made in the administration, organization, and training of the New South Wales Forces, as shown by the present Report and that for 1893. The true principle that thorough efficiency of personnel must always be the chief element of military strength appears now to have been clearly understood and practically accepted. The General Officer Commanding has been made directly responsible to Government for the whole administration of the Military Department, including finance, pay of troops and ordnance; the regimental organization has been remodelled on modern lines, and is now reported to work satisfactorily; the elementary training of officers has been provided for by the establishment of schools of instruction and their higher training by sending selected officers to courses in England and India; the training of men by units has been systematized, and something has been done to provide for their combined training in small camps of exercise. The fact that it has been possible to carry out these improvements at a time of financial depression in the Colony is evidence of the economy arising from sound principles of administration, as well as of a spirit of discipline and patriotism in the forces which has made temporary reductions in pay possible without interfering with efficiency.
3. Passing to the recommendations of the Commandant, contained in the Report for 1894, the Committee concur in the advisability of appointing as second-in-command of the Mounted Brigade an officer from the Imperial Service for a period of three years. This brigade forms an important portion of the colonial forces, and it is essential that there should be one superior officer in the Colony thoroughly versed in the duties of mounted troops.
4. The recommendation with regard to a change in the command of the artillery, recapitulated from the Report of 1893, has been dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Memorandum No. 53, dated the 31st January, 1896.
5. The three batteries of Field Artillery have at present ten 16-pr. R.M.L.
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