The Short Title of this Act is “The Defence Act Amendment Act, 1906”; and it shall form part of and be read together with “The Defence Act, 1886” (hereinafter called “the principal Act”).

In addition to the powers granted to the Governor by the principal Act, the Governor may, by warrant under his hand and under the public seal of the colony, appoint a Council of Defence (hereinafter called “the Council”) in connection with the Defence Forces, consisting of such persons, and for such period or term, and to hold any of the offices hereinafter named, or other offices, as to the Governor may seem fit, and may from time to time reappoint any of such person or persons:

Provided, however, that none of such persons shall be appointed for a longer period than five years at one time.

The Minister of Defence shall be responsible to the Governor and to Parliament for all the business of the Council.

All business of the Council, other than business which the Minister of Defence specially reserves to himself, shall be transacted in the following principal divisions:—

The Governor may from time to time appoint some fit person to be an Inspector-General of the Defence Forces, and who shall hold office for a period of not exceeding five years at any one time, but may be from time to time reappointed.

The duties of the Inspector-General of the Defence Forces shall be, under the orders and direction of the Council, to review generally and to report to the Council on the practical results of the policy of the Council, and for that purpose to inspect and report annually upon the training and efficiency of all members of the Defence Forces, on the suitability of their armament and equipment, on the conditions of the fortifications and defences of the colony, and generally on the readiness and fitness of the Defence Forces for war.

The several members of the Council and the Inspector-General of the Defence Forces shall severally be paid such annual salaries out of the Consolidated Fund as shall from time to time be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.

Any Volunteer may, after one year’s service, except when on actual military service, quit his corps on complying with the conditions of section fifty-three of the principal Act.

Paragraph fourteen of section two of “The Defence Act Amendment Act, 1900,” is hereby repealed.

Section twenty-six of “The Defence Act Amendment Act, 1900,” is hereby repealed.