DEFENCE SAVINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 August 1930, Page 6

DEFENCE SAVINGS.

An estimated reduction of £275,000 in the Defence Vote this year -was described at a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce as a paltry saving. It would be interesting to know what, in the opinion of this critic, would be a substantial saving, and exactly how it could be effected. It is only fair to Mr. Lunn, this particular objecting member of the Chamber of Commerce, to say that he objects to the Defence reduction on other grounds. He thinks it risky to so weaken the national defences. The Minister's statement on Friday, however, was very clear as to the reasons that have moved the Governments The idea of a sinister compact with the Labour Party may be ruled out as absurd. The Government was faced with the absolute necessity for economising, and they chose the Defence Department for one substantial "cut" because, in the first place, the international outlook is clearer than it used to be, and because there are large numbers of trained or partially trained men in the country who could easily be mobilised if the need arose. Compulsion, which is thoroughly sound in principle, has not been' abolished, but only suspended as a matter of expediency. Wisely, in our opinion, the Government has chosen to economise on the rank and file rather than on the staff. Should an emergency arise, the staff would be there to train the units. The Government has acted courageously in this matter, and it is entitled to a good deal more sympathy and support than it is receiving.