DEFENCE OF N.Z.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 272, 29 August 1946, Page 2

DEFENCE OF N.Z.

INTERIM ARMY SCHEME CRITICISED

GOVERNMENT CHARGED WITH HESITANCY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 28. Regret that the Government had lost the services of many brilliant New Zealand soldiers in building-up a post-war defence system was expressed by Mr J. A. ‘ Roy (Opposition, Glut ha) when lie spoke in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-day. He did not support universal military service, but criticised the Government’s interim Army scheme.

Mr Roy said it was unfortunate that after having just finished a gigantic war the world was in such an unsettled state. While the actual fighting was ended, an unsatisfactory state existed, and tlfe only way to keep certain aggressive nations at peace was to show them how strong you were. That was the only language they understood.

Mr Roy considered that the Government had allowed a golden opportunity to pass by not obtaining the services of many brilliant fighting men in order to build up a post-war defence system. Other countries were planning along those lines. He hoped a position would not arise similar lo that after the first World War, when Britain threw away her arms and allowed aggressive nations to take advantage of her. He did not suggest that New Zealand should spend a very large sum on defence, but experience had shown that if we had a welltrained nucleus it could be built up and the whole licked into shape. He considered that New Zealand should have a small force. The interim force as it w,as at present, was farcical. Care of equipment could be put on a civilian basis. Lie did not think it was necessary to have a universal system of training, and thought rifle clubs could be used more in the training of soldiers. Physical training could be given through primary and secondary schools and through the Physical Welfare branch of the Internal Affairs Department. Mr Roy said it was no exaggeration to say that hundreds of excellent officers and non-commissioned officers from all the services had turned to other occupations because of the Government’s hesitancy over a defence policy at the end of the war. ‘Doubtless the answer would be that we were waiting for a world plan, but this was a case where each Dominion should have acted on its own authority without waiting for a United Nations plan or an Empire scheme into which each country should fit its own plans.