Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/326

 204 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA

the services and duties assigned to the Provinces, for each year ending March 31st : —

The following table shows the amounts

Province

1910-111 1910-111 1911-12 Revenue Expenditure 1 Expenditure

1912-13 2 Expenditure

Cape of Good Hope

Natal

Transvaal

Orange Free State.

£ £

730,671 669,862

384,448 338,224

1,244,765 1 1.057,340

269,255 1 '205,874

£

952,897

477,166

1,367,075

469,389

£ 1,049,063

610,644 1,.S92,900

632,500

Total

2.638,139

2,271,300

3,266,527

3,685,107

1 11 months from May 31st, 1910, when Union took effect.

2 Estimates.

The provinces have no debts at present.

Defence.

The defence forces at present consist partly of the garrison of regular troops maintained in the country and paid for out of the Imperial Exchequer, and partly of local forces.

The garrison consists of 4 cavalry regiments (2,368 of all ranks), 2 horse artillery batteries, 6 field batteries, 2 companies of garrison artillery (1,572 of all ranks), 5 engineer companies (599 of all ranks), 6 battalions of infantry, 6 companies of mounted infantry, and a due proportion of depart- mental services ; total establishment 11,485 of all ranks. These troops are distributed in various stations in the Transvaal, the Orange Free State, and Cape Colony. Headquarters is at Pretoria.

The local forces are at present in a transition state. Under the new defence act (which became law 14th June, 1912), service is made compulsory on all citizens ; but as this would provide an unnecessarily large force, only a proportion, of young men will annually be enrolled, and it is hoped to get these to volunteer ; men who do not undergo training will be liable to pay 11. a year for twenty-four years ; if sufficient volunteers do not come forward the ballot will be resorted to. The period of training is for four years, between the ages of 17 and 25 ; there is to be a preliminary recruits training, followed by annual trainings of from 8 to 15 days. This forms the Active Citizen Army. It is to be from 20,000 to 25,000 strong. After completing the four years period, the men join the Citizen Reserve Force till they are 45.

In addition to the Active Citizen Army there will be a Coast Garrison Force which will be partially paid, the men being voluntarily enlisted. It will consist of the South African Garrison Artillery, organised from existing corps of the same class, and the South African Defence Corps — an engineer and electric light corps. There will also be a Permanent Force formed by converting existing mounted police forces into 5 regiments called the South African Riflemen, which will include batteries of artillery as well as mounted rifles ; the establishment of this force will be about 2,500. The Coast Defence Force and the Permanent Force will both have their own reserves, formed from the men who have passed through their ranks.

Finally there will be the National Reserve comprising all citizens between 17 and GO who do not belong to any of the above. The annual cost of the scheme is expected to be 1,172,000/.

Boys between 13 and 17 will be cornpulsorily enrolled in cadet corps where this is practicable ; Imt the law admits that such enrolment and