The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1939. DEFENCE REVIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 169, 20 July 1939, Page 10

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1939. DEFENCE REVIEW.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that reeds resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

An impression mainly favourable is made by the account given last night by the Hon. F. Jones of the preparation of the Dominion's defences. Mr. Jones is a relatively silent Minister, but it is clear that he has not been silent because he had nothing to say. Last night he said much about administration, but little about policy. It is an omission which he ought to make good when the House conies to consider the Defence Estimates. Defences are designed to provide against an attack, or the possibility of an attack, of some kind. Unless the Minister will say what kind of attack his advisers contemplate it will not be possible to judge whether the scale and nature of the defences for which he is responsible are adequate or inadequate. In Australia the people have been officially warned of the possibility of actual invasion. Does the Government contemplate that possibility for New Zealand ? Some of its supporters scout the idea; some of the Opposition do not. The Minister not only can, but should, give the House and the country a clear indication of the opinion which he holds, after listening to advice and discussion of n, nature necessarily denied to the public. Until he does so the acute differences of opinion which exist as to the adequacy of the defence forces can hardly disappear.

In the Air Force, the Naval Division and, though less certainly, in the Territorial Army, the Minister was able to describe a record of solid achievement during the term of his administration. As a result all three arms are much better able to perform their functions than they were three years ago, and their progress continues. It may be said that the need for strengthening of defences became obvious during the Minister's term, and that he has had the money to spend. That may be admitted, but it should be added to his and the Government's credit that they were not slow to realise the need, that they went out of their way to seek the best advice and, as far as can be seen, in the absence of a clear statement of the strategical views which they accept, they are working to a programme so designed that the money will be spent to the best advantage.

Most of the criticism of defence administration htTs been directed to the land forces, and to this subject the Minister gave his attention first. He indicated, in effect, that a Territorial Army strength of 16,000, with the reserves now being formed, is regarded by his advisers as sufficient. He said that Major-General Mackesy, generally speaking, approved of what is being done. He read a paragraph from the general's report, and promised to make more.of it (but not the whole of it) public. There is, it Would seem, a strong case for making the whole 6t it public. The land forces are designed for home defence only. What can theto be in the report that the people of New Zealand should not know? Apart from the question of the size of the forces, a question which the Minister perhaps could settle conclusively, if he would, the public is chiefly interested in the methods of recruitment and training. Did Major-General Maokesy express confi'dencc that a force of 16,000,• when recruitcd by the voluntary system, can be raised to and maintained at a satisfactory level of efficiency bv the existing training methods? If"he did not, but recommended radical alterations, the public should know, even if the Government disagrees with some of the recommendations. The paragraph of tho general's report which the Minister read emphasised the necessity of strong, united popular support for the land forces. The Minister appealed to the Opposition for such support. By a little more candour he could command it.