ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25547, 15 July 1948, Page 4

ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT

The Minister, reverting to' Navy policy, said that in addition to the frigates and survey vessel, a tug had been acquired for naval purposes, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was being established in four centres, the sea cadet movement had be£n assisted, courses overseas were being provided for personnel, and every endeavour was being made to increase the efficiency of the Royal New Zealand, Navy. The dockyard had been doing work for Government departments in addition to its usual work. This ensured the retention of skilled personnel. It was also hoped to obtain another 300 personnel from the United Kingdom who would be likely to stay in New Zealand at the end of their naval service. Mr Jones said that about 90 lads who had joined the Army would, in additimi to their service training, receive trade training. It was hoped to obtain 250 former servicemen tradesmen from Great Britain. Territorial Force Mr Jones said it was agreed that a territorial force should be provided and a decision had to be made whether it should be voluntary or under a form of national service. Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga): Now * we’re getting somewhere. Mr Jones: It has been suggested that we should recruit or call up 8000 men each year from young men of the 18-year-old group for an initial period of training of 14 weeks in district training camps. On completion of this training .they will be posted to territorial units. They will attend three annual camps for two weeks each, and a number of muster parades, including some night parades, with territorial units. It would be necessary, said the Minister, to provide officers and n.c.o.’s for the territorial force. These could be raised from former servicemen on a volunteer basis. He was sure returned men would respond and that it would be possible to establish a first-class territorial force in New Zealand. Mr Doidge: When does this plan come into operation? Mr Jones said it would be necessary for former servicemen volunteering as officers and n.c.o.’s for the territorial force to take a two weeks’ refresher course before being posted to territorial units. National Service “I am of the opinion that to obtain this force it will be necessary to introduce a system of national service,” said Mr Jones. “No decision has been reached in regard to the recruitment

of this force. If we are going to call up 8000 men each year, then I don’t think there is any possibility of getting that number except under some ■ form of national service.” The Minister said the decision to buy Mosquito aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force—about 80 had been received—had been a wise one. They had enabled New Zealand to esi tablish one fighter and two bomber squadrons that should meet New Zealand’s requirements for the next four or five years. New Zealand should then be in a position to choose the perfected aircraft of post-war design most suitable to New Zealand requirements. This consideration also applied to New Zealand transport and flyingboat squadrons. The territorial air force was being reorganised. It would comprise 2000 men. Training aircraft at present held would be used for that, purpose. There were about 5000 lads in the Air Training Corps, of whom 150 received flying training each year, followed by a refresher course. Mr Jones said the present strength of the Dominion’s forces was: Navy, 1560; Army, 4763; Air Force, 2833. The Army total included 2286 in J Force. J Force and No. 14 Squadron, R.N.Z.A.F., would soon return to New Zealand. The proposed establishments of the regular forces would be: Navy, 2500; Army, 3830; Air Force, 4150. To these would be added part-time forces, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the territorial army force, and the territorial air force. It would b 6 seen that a heavy commitment would have to be met to maintain this force, apart from stores, capital equipment, armaments, etc. Men and Equipment The Government had always appreciated the necessity of providing an efficient defence force for New Zealand. He believed the people of the country wanted a defence force and must be prepared to pay for it. New Zealand was to-day in a stronger position for establishing defence forces than in 1939. To-day New Zealand had an enormous amount of equipment and stores and had thousands of men and women who had served during the recent war. If an emergency arose there would be a wonderful response from veterans of both world wars, just as at the outbreak of the Second World War veterans of the first had magnificently assisted those of the younger generation who had enlisted to defend their country.

Mr Jones said women had done valuable work in the services during the war and the policy of employing women in. the regular forces would continue. It was also proposed to recruit them for the territorial force. The present world situation was most serious, said Mr Jones. The Government had always realised its responsibilities for the defence of the country and knew New Zealand must also play its part in the defence °f the British Commonwealth. “We have never hesitated in the past and I can assure you that we are not lacking at the present time in a sense of our responsibilities for the defence of this country,” the Minister said.