THE LAND FORCES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22767, 20 July 1939, Page 12

THE LAND FORCES

* Rapid Expansion In Recent Years MINISTER’S REVIEW Reserve of Equipment And Ammunition [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 19. “The last Government allowed the land forces of the Dominion to fall into a deplorable state,” said the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) when speaking in the Address-in-Replv debate in the House of Representatives to-night. The Minister said that when the present Government came into power no attempt had been made to modernise the land forces. with the exception of coast defences. Mobilisation, stores, and equipment were deficient, and war reserves of ammunition were low. Training schools for officers and non-commis-sioned officers did not exist, and there was not that close touch with other parts of the Commonwealth that there should have been.

“Owing to the small number of men available, the various units could not function as such.” Mr Jones said, and when we came in arrangements were made to form composite and mounted units, pending their being expanded to their former status. No unit was disbanded, as suggested by one member of the Opposition. To-day, both officers and men are showing greater enthusiasm than ever they have, and with the increase in pay and the provision of new uniforms, we are getting a higher standard of men. Considering the work done at camps, weekend bivouacs, the schools of instruction -and the army schools, the land fbrces in this country were never better trained than they are now, “During the last year, special attention has been paid to the building up of the land forces to their full estab-lishment-9508 of all ranks. This has been achieved and subsequently, with the endorsement of General Mackesy, the Cabinet decided to raise the peace establishment by 6000 men, which will cost more than £200,000 for training and equipment. With .the co-operation of the National Rifle Association, sniper platoons of trained riflemen are being formed to come within the organisation of the territorial force.” Camp Attendances A gratifying feature of the response to the Government’s drive had been increased attendances at camps, the Minister said. In 1938 camp attendances had totalled 3125 of all ranks, or 41 per cent, of the strength; but In 1939 the total was 7296 for all ranks, or 77.3 per cent, of the active strength. That improvement was due to the better conditions of service, the keenness of the men, and the co-operation of their employers. The total strength at the army and district schools of instruction was 5974. Altogether, the land forces comprised 1105 officers and 4869 other ranks. There could be no doubt, said the Minister, of the value of the special reserve training scheme, which was introduced in 1937 to train 300 men a year to build up a fortress of heavy batteries. The scheme had been continued, and altogether 677 men had now been trained, and 473 posted to units. A further 250 were under training. Reservists at first were trained for three months, but this was subsequently increased to five months, and vocational training was given as well, and the system would be continued as long as men offered for it. Every effort was being made by the Government, not only to give men an initial military training, but also to train them in a trade and find them employment at the termination of their training. The present strength of the territorial forces was 898 officers and 11,017 other ranks, said Mr Jones. Reserves of stores, ammunition, and equipment had already been substantially increased, and were being added to constantly. The strengthening of the coast defences continued to progress. and the receipt of certain equipment from overseas authorities would enable the work at the three defended ports to be com r ' ded.

Mechanisation Three years ago the mechanisation of the forces was commenced, and was being continued, and large orders had been placed for further modern equipment, which was now coming to hand more rapidly. The field artillery brigades were mechanised, except for the howitzer batteries, and this equipment had already been shipped. Increased and better facilities were being provided in the shape of new buildings for the handling of military stores and equipment at the main ordnance ports. Accommodation for the personnel had been enlarged and improved at the standing camps at Trentham, Burnham, and Narrow Neck, and during the year the Government had been endeavouring to make improvements to drill halls, an activity would be continued this year. “Steps are being taken to establish units of the military reserve in the various districts,” sai'd the Minister, “and a system of training is being embarked upon. The building of this reserve does add to the strength of the land forces of this Dominion. We have substantially increased the strength of the regular forces of the Dominion. In 1935 there were 33 officers, 318 other ranks, and 11 cadets, a total of 412. To-day there are 100 officers, 496 other ranks, and 15 cadets, a total of 611, and this number is being increased. Every effort has been made to give officers and non-commissioned officers efficient training, and some of them have been sent to Great Britain and Australia, a policy which will be continued.” Mr Jones paid a glowing tribute to the work of territorial associations in recruiting and looking after the welfare of the men. The work was greatly appreciated by the Government, he said. The Minister quoted from the report of Major-General P. J. Mackesy, who said; “Unless the army is encouraged to be proud of itself, and is given adequate reason to be so, unless the nation holds it in high esteem, unless a reasonable proportion of the best elements in the country not only join it but are . eager to join it,, unless influential people in various districts are anxious to associate themselves closely with the well-being and efficiency of their local units, then I fear the army can neither acquire nor maintain that spirit which, in a day of trial, may well prove vital to the. future of New Zealand.”