| A the end of the South African War much debate was generated on what defence preparations New Zealand actually needed for its security. Babington believed that the only way to Have an effective defence was to concentrate forces at vulnerable points. In contrast, some politicians argued that the only effective defence was the creation of a nation of marksmen able to defend the country in the same manner as the Boers had done in South
Africa. To mediate between the opposing views it was decided to establish a Council of Defence based on the British model.
The New Zealand Council consisted of the Defence Minister, the Chief of General Staff, a Finance Minister and a Secretary. New Zealand's Council, working in combination with the Council of Defence of Great Britain, was tasked not only with organising forces for home defence and for any overseas commitment that might arise. Other tasks devolved to the Council were, firstly, the formulation of regulations that would make the forces more pop as well as encourage
enlistment and efficiency. Secondly, the decentralization of command and
control of the forces.
The council immediately proceeded to fulfill its duties as best it could. Between 1907 and 1909 it revoked 71 regulations, made an additional 81 and amended a further 238 in its endeavours to encourage New Zealand's Volunteer system. To implement the government' s wish of decentralized control of the forces, the Council gave District Commanders more authority and responsibility over their districts.
The Council also prepared regulations and instructions for mobilization, designed to assemble and equip, at short notice, Military Units and mould them into an effective force capable
of resisting low level attacks. The Councils mobilization plans were greatly assisted by technological developments and hindered by organisational deficiencies. Concentration of mobilized forces by horse and harness was vastly improved by the completion in the North Island of the main trunk line. It was hindered, however,
by the continued absence of an 'Army Service Corps' able to provide logistical back-up to the forces and essential if an army wished to survive on the battlefield.
Following the path pioneered by Imperial commandants, the Council aligned the training of New Zealand defence forces more closely with the British Regular Army. Imperial training manuals and instructional
pamphlets were purchased and used for training New Zealand's forces. To assist with the implementation of the more Imperially aligned training, instruction staff visited each district.
The training organised by the council was obviously designed to reinforce Imperial " and ensure that any contingent sent from New Zealand would be able to take its place in an envisaged 'Homogeneous Imperial Army. It also provided for expansion of the force due to either increased popular support or governmental direction.
The Council was also instrumental in moving the nation toward accepting compulsory military
service for its citizens. On 7 August 1907, the Council submitted a damning report on New Zealand's Defence Forces. On the first page of this report a warning was given to the nation that: "..-should the Volunteer Force not be maintained or brought up to an efficient state, volunteering has had its last chance. If the general public are in earnest as to defence, they must
themselves assist and ensure that under the Volunteer system sufficient enlistment is made, and that once men are enlisted they attend regularly. The alternative is a system of universal or compulsory training, whereby the burden of service in the Defence Forces
will be more evenly distributed..."
Eventually New Zealand accepted
compulsory military service because of the Council's warning and the activities of the well
organised pressure group the "National Defence League". The
League seized opportunities to play on the fears of the people. Established on 25 August 1906 the Defence League wished to: "...create a sentiment which would induce the patriots of the land to bind themselves together for the creation of an efficient force to look after the interests of the country in case of conflict..."
Specifically, it wished to see the introduction of compulsory military training based on the Swiss concept of every citizen a
soldier. By 1907 the campaign organised by the Defence League, as gathering momentum, enlisting the support of men from all
ranks and professions, including the Prime Minister, and had launched a journal entitled "Defence" to spread its views.
The members of the National Defence League of New Zealand were also conscious of Imperial needs. 1907had seen the establishment of the Imperial General Staff. Born out of the 1907 Colonial Conference, the Imperial General Staff was tasked with the responsibility of combining the autonomous forces of the Empire into a homogeneous Imperial Army in an emergency.
After the Imperial General Staff was established the National Defence League of New Zealand stepped up its campaign. In addition to publishing its views through "Defence", the League took an active part in politics. During the 1908 general election campaign, League members questioned all candidates on their views on military training and those views were then made public. In addition, public meetings
with well informed speakers were organised throughout the country to heighten public awareness.
Two important speakers for the campaign were Colonel Davies, the inspector of the forces, and McNab, a former Defence Minister. The campaign was given further stimulus when the 1909 German Naval Scare swept the country. A scare fuelled by the realization that the German Navy threatened
British sea supremacy. The Defence League seized the opportunity to call further meetings, and resolutions were engineered calling for the institution of universal military training as an absolute necessity for the safety of the country.
In response to the campaign and the 1909 Imperial Conference, a new Defence Bill was presented to Parliament on 2 December 1909. In just under two weeks, the Bill was pushed through its three readings, its committee stages and signed into law.
A law aimed at satisfying the demands of the press, public and Defence League. Demands which viewed the Voluntary System as inadequate but viewed conscription with abhorrence. The Bill introduced into New Zealand a
Defence force modeled on the Swiss Militia. It provided for a compulsory part-time force where civilians would be
given basic military training without the objectionable features of conscription.
Implementation of the Act was, unlike its rush through Parliament,
extremely slow. Its provisions, in fact, were postponed until after the visit of Field Marshall Viscount Kitchener who had
been invited to visit New Zealand and make recommendations on its defence preparations. Under the new Ad, a Territorial force was established to be administered under four Military Districts Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. Each Military District was to have a Field Force based on modem establishments. Each was to have four Brigades of Mounted Rifles (12 Regiments), four Brigades of Infantry (16 Battalions), four Brigades of Field Artillery, two four
gun battery ammunition columns, four Engineer Companies, four Field Ambulances, and eight supply column corps (4 Mounted and 4 Infantry).
The scheme provided for 27,000 Territorials, between the ages of 18 and 19 to be available for training each year - 2,700 to pass into the reserves annually with another 38,000 cadets being trained. The manpower was divided into 'junior and cadets' from 12 to 14 years old, and 'senior cadets' from 14 to 18 years old. Males at 18 until 21 were then to join the 'General Training
Section' before entering the 'Reserves' from 21 to 30.
Kitchener, after reviewing all of New Zealand's defence forces had few modifications to recommend to the proposed scheme.
He believed a commandant should replace the Council of Defence, a quota system for districts be established, the General Training section should cater for 18 to 25 year olds and the Reserve should control those from 25 to 30.
In July 1910 an Amendment Bill to the Defence Act was put to Parliament to implement Kitchener's recommendations. This was followed in September by the announcement that Colonel Godley, with the temporary rank of Major-General, would take up the duties of commandant of New Zealand's defence forces in place of the Council of
Defence.
In 1911 Major General Sir Alexander Godley, General Officer Commanding, formed the New Zealand Staff Corps and the New Zealand Permanent Staff to meet the need for staff officers and instructors. In the same year arrangements were made to send up to 10 officer cadets annually to the newly-created Royal Military College at Duntroon in Australia.
At the same time the General Headquarters was expanded and a New Zealand Section of the Imperial General Staff was established. These bodies were tasked with writing plans for
mobilization and giving effect to Imperial co-operation in defence
matters.
In short, for the creation of a segment of an Imperial
Army. The reforms were also important for the increase in efficiency achieved. As a result,
when war broke out on 4 August New Zealand was in a position to offer the "mother
country", Britain, an expeditionary force. |
