DEFENCE POLICY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21744, 28 March 1936, Page 14

DEFENCE POLICY

EXPANSION OF AIR FORCE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS NO COMPULSORY TERRITORIAL SYSTEM [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]/ WELLINGTON, March 27. When the Government announces its defence policy, it seems likely that principal emphasis will be laid on the necessity for expansion of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the encouragement of civil aviation. Another detail that seems certain is that there will be no reintro- , duction of the compulsory territorial system. In any defence policy for the Dominion, Empire considerations nat- ~ urally arise, and this has led to some, reticence on the part of Ministers in . discussing details. The Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) has ” frequently made it clear that in his - opinion the first line of defence must ? be population. He maintains that/ Empire countries cannot continue to hold empty spaces when the peoples of other nations are crying out fop' room to expand. < 5 - Planned Migration Discussing the subject to-day, Mr Savage said that, while first' thoughts would always be for people in New Zealand who were struggling to find employment, the . Government would be more than sympathetic to a scheme of planned migration, whereby immigrants would arrive from Britain and jobs for which they were specially suited would be waiting for them. Most members of the Cabinet f seem to be impressed by the chang-; ing methods that are beginning to be appreciated overseas; and, unfettered by the views of the senior : services, they appear to favour strength in the air as a means of defence. Although no official information can be obtained, it is... gathered that the Government is impressed by the mobility and comparative cheapness of an efficient air , force, which would enable the Dominion to co-operate closely with its nearest neighbour, Australia, where similar views apparently are held. There is no sugjgestion that the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy or the territorial forces should be,scrapped; but on reliable authority it is suggested that ex- . penditure on these two arms may be limited to provide for an in* creased allocation for aerial defence. Nor is it contemplated? that the Whole of any future* grants shouhko be expended- wholly pn, military . t ation. It appears that the Governments prepared; to* expand in-rthis direction; but in yiew of the importance, of training pilots and mechanics for possible eventualities, a , liberal policy is likely to be followed j with civil aviation. ■ . Minister’s 5 Views The position was discussed briefly to-day by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who indicated that the Government had no intention of reintroducing the compulsory territorial system in New Zealand. The Minister was discussing 11 the future defence of the Dominion, but he declined to indicate any specific direction in which the Government would concentrate. . , “The whole position of the three services will be examined,” he added; “but whether the Government will devote greatest attention to the land, sea, or air services is a matter that has yet to be* decided. I do not think, however, that there is any possibility"of the compulsory, territorial system being introduced.’’