THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14638, 6 April 1948, Page 3

THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

TERRITORIAL FORCE TO BE FORMED Modern Training Equipment Maintaining Efficient Regular Cadre (Special to The Times) Wellington, Today. Dealing with the future of the Armv, the statement released today on the defence policy for New Zealand makes it clear that it has never been the policy of New Zealand to maintain a standing army ready to fight as an organised formation in War. "The most that we can do, it adds, "is to maintain an efficient regular cadre which will be responsible for the organisation, training and equioment of the Territorial Force and be the hard core of the land forces which, in the event of emergency, we must nrovide for the defence of our own interests. "In the past we have depended initiallv upon the Royal Navy and upon the active military strength of Great Britain. But in view of the lessons of the war and the march of events in the post-war world, we mu c t ourselves make increasing provision for t>e own country and the strategic area vital to us stretching through the islands to the north cf New Zealand. "On the outbreak of war, whereover the initial action takes place the Army has an immediate local defence role—it is responsible tor the manning and operation of tne anti-aircraft and coast de: ence batteries in fortress areas. Personnel must be organised and trained to a state, of instant readiness for these roles "Before any Territorial Force can bp established it is necessary to have the regular component so ordered that it can effectively tram and organise this force. Our first task therefore, is the recruitment and'traSng of the Regular Force and this is now proceedm* Immediately it s properly organised and trained it will be ready to handle the Territorials A territorial Force will be established and the terms of service and the method of recruitment will be announced Ster when the Regular personnel have been trained and are available for this work.