GEN. RICHARDSON'S VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 5

GEN. RICHARDSON'S VISIT.

A LOOK-IN AT HAMILTON. KEPATRIATION HIS CHIEF CONCERN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, General Officer in Charge of Administration, accompanied by Colonel J. E. Duigan, Chief of the Staff of the Auckland District, spent a few hours in Hamilton to-day, where they visited the i local group headquarters and inquired into various matters affecting administration. Questioned by a "Star" representative as to the probable administrative changes and alterations in the establishment of units, the General intimated that while probably there were changes contemplated these were matter* upon which he could not speaie. Tht future defence policy wag another eubject mentioned, but here again the General was reticent. It was absolutely necessary, he declared, to make prepartr tion for the defence of the country. Those who regarded the confirmation of the League of Nations as the death knell of war were, he was very much afraid, greatly mistaken. "The future defence policy of the Dominion has not," he added, "yet been declared. It will not be decided until—*■ "After the election," suggested out representative. - . "Ah, we shall see," replied the General. The speedy repatriation and settlement of soldiers appears to be the subject uppermost in the General's mind. He recognises that the first interest of the country should be to get the soldiers settled down to civil life again as quickly as possible, that they might become productive, and again assist in building up the country's commerce. This was, to bis mind, the greatest esesntial at the present time. After that he would advocate a vigorous immigration policy, with the idea of building up the population, so that we would, when the time came, be in a position to defend our* solves. At the present moment, surrounded as we were by densely populated countries, our small population was a source of weakness. The future scheme of training suggested by Sir James Allen, with a concentrating of territorials for a period of four months was mentioned to the general. He said he did not know what the in tentione of Sir James Allen were. Asyhow, it was obviously 'better, if serious military training had to be undertaken for future defence, to have the men concentrated, and that they should undergo a definite course of training. " And the objections from the churchee, General?" "Well, as to the protest entered by the Church Council regarding foul Inn-r-uHcre and the lowering of morals, that, to my mind, is all nonsense." Asked if he could not give a lead in the direction of a future defence policy, he replied that he had no desire to publicly indicate a policy at the present time. He agreed, however, that there wae need for public education on matters of defence. Asked if he had any intention of entering the political arena, he declared that he had not, adding, " It is very eeldom that a protesicmal soldier makes a successful politician." The two officers left for Auckland by the midday train.