EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 181, 2 August 1930, Page 7

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

EIGHTY THOUSAND MEN. IS NEW ZEALAND COMMITTED? QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A complaint that select committees of the House were kept too much in the dark regarding major policy matters was made by Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau) in the House to-day. He said that the Defence Committee had not been consulted on the question of defence policy. ' In that respect the Government was too closely following in the steps of the Reform party. In the Press it had been stated that LieutenantCommander Connors had asked at the >iavy League Conference if New Zealand was not definitely bound, in case of necessity, to provide an expeditionary force of about 80,000 men. LieutenantCommander Connors said he had had that information from a high military officer. Mr. Jordan added that members had heard that it was proposed to bring a. military man from England to. report on New' Zealand's defence system. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence: It is proposed to do nothing of the kind.

•Mr. Jordan thanked the Minister for the information. He expressed the opinion that there was something in the suggestion that officers of the Defence Department should be consulted before any changes were made. Did the chairman of the Defence Committee know that a commitment had been made that an expeditionary force of 80,000 men would be available in the event of a national emergency? Mr. T. W. McDonald (chairman of the Defence Committee): He does not know. Mr. Jordan: The chairman of the committeo deputed to deal witli all matters in connection with defence does not know. This resolves the thing into little more than a farce. lam speaking for the Labour party when I say that we are not unmindful of the defence of the country. We are prepared to follow the lead of the Old Country, but England has no compulsory service. Let me say that we have every confidence in the manhood of New Zealand. In my district we have a battery of artillery, and it is a good one. 1 have seen it in action—at Rotorua— (laughter)— and according to some of our best officers it is efficient. Although it is new, all ranks are keen and enthusiastic, and it is an insult' to these men to compel them to bo where they are willing to be. Mr. Jordan repeated his statement regarding the expeditionary force, the Minister interjecting that probably there was some understanding in the event of trouble that a force might be sent. "Even the Minister does not know," exclaimed Mr. Jordan. "Where are we getting to?" A Labour Member: What is the hidden hand? Mr. Coatea: Perhaps Mr. Jordan-can clear up the 1 mystery. Mr. Jordan: It has got me beaten. A Labour Member: Is'it not a Reform commitment? Mr. Jordan: If it is, Mr. Coiites can tell us. Mr: Samuel (Thames): Ask your own leader.