NEW ZEALAND’S DEFENCES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26122, 26 May 1950, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND’S DEFENCES

CRITICISM BY NAVAL OFFICER “SERVICES NOT STRONG ENOUGH” {New Zealand Press Association) „ . . . AUCKLAND. May 25. Criticism of New Zealand’s defence services, with particular reference to the Navy, was made last night by Captain A. C. Duckworth, Naval Officer in charge at Auckland, .when he addressed the Auckland branch of the Overseas League at its Empire Day reception. “f, for one. am far from happy about the defence services in New Zealand. I have said it before and I will go on saying it over and over again in the all too short time left to me here,” said Captain Duckworth. New Zealand had ships but could not man them, inn British Navy was manned by 150.000 officers and men and proportionately New Zealand should provide 5000 officers and men for her actual Navy. “But what do we provide?’’ asked Captain Duckworth. “Under 2500—in fact less than half of what we should if this country was bearing its proper share of naval defences of the Empire. “You may well ask ‘What can I do?’ ’’ said the speaker. “We cannot all be Prime Ministers but we all have a vote and a voice. We can say ‘I am not happy about the security of this country.’ “It is true we have shown a great lead to Australia. < The last Government. and its Prime Minister, by the Compulsory Military Training Act showed great material courage and leadership. But your professional services—the Navy, Army, and Air Force —I can assure you are not strong enough. “We have the ships and cannot man them, the Army needs tanks, men. and material, and the Air Force I am sure, needs aircraft and men again. Strength is the only thing that bullies understand and which will prevent another war.”

“NO CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT”

ASSURANCE BY CAPTAIN DUCKWORTH

(iveu- Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. May 25. Captain A. C. Duckworth, Naval Officer in Charge. Auckland, has given the Naval Board an assurance that he had no intention of criticising the Government in his address to the Auckr land branch of the Overseas League. Giving this information to-day, the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), who explained that Captain Duckworth was speaking extempore, said the report of his address was phrased in such a way that it could have been interpreted as a criticism of the Government on defence matters.

“Captain Duckworth was dealing with the question of a possible future enemy, and was emphasising he need to be strong as the only line of conduct likely to be understood by an aggressor, ’ said Mr Holland. “It may be, pointed out that the Royal New Zealand Navy is only nine years old. has doubled its strength in the last three years, and could not have made much more rapid growth without coming out of balance in its development.” Mr Hollanc said he had felt certain that the remarks attributed to Captain Duckworth did not represent w b at he intended to convey to his audience. “The last thing high naval officers desire to do is to enter into political controversy, cr to criticise their own Government or its administration. I was certain that Captain Duckworth would not wish to depart in any way from that well-established custom of his service,” said Mr Holland.