R.S.A. Journal Comments On Defence Cut Reports

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 16

R.S.A. Journal Comments On Defence Cut Reports

“Some disturbing reports are filtering out of the present discussions between the Government and the Chiefs of Staff over economies in the three Services,” says “Review,” the journal of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association.

“One suggestion—and it seems to be mope than a suggestion—is that a substantial cut is to be made in the Armoured Brigade. Thousands of New Zealanders who were captured and badly shot up in the Western Desert through the poor support given by non-New Zealand armoured units will view any move to pare down our own armour with great misgivings. “There is a strong case for maintaining a well-equipped and effective New Zealand Armoured Brigade. It should have ample tanks of modern design for manoeuvres and training. Apart from three Centurions at Waiouru there are no modern tanks in the country. Another rumour has it that compulsory training is to be modified to make it on a selective basis, since too many 18-year-old youths are coming forward to be adequately trained by the present Regular Force. The R.S.A. has always emphasised universal liability for service and there will be much opposition to any move to favour particular categories of youths by exempting them from their responsibilities. “Far from cutting down our forces there is every reason for strengthening them and giving them better

equipment with the world situation as it is.

“The Army can do with much more modern equipment—especially in transport (most of which is of World War II vintage and prone to continual breakdowns), tactical anti-aircraft weapons, communications equipment and tanks.

Another urgent necessity is to create a second general to take command of the New Zealand Division, and to promote the present Chief of the General Staff (Major General C. E. Weir) to free him of the actual responsibilities of running our large and complicated division (25,000 men). He should be free to give his full time to defence generally and attending the many conferences and overseas meetings so necessary today. “Australia has 13 generals; we have one. To be efficient we should have at least two.

“Equipment is the big headache in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Navy. Our aircraft and ships are obsolescent. We have one modern cruiser in prospect—the Royalist. At least two modern cruisers are essential as a minimum force plus attendant corvettes and ancillary vessels. “ ‘Review’ has said before that it is wasting money—quite apart from tending to impair morale—to maintain old equipment. We are not getting full value for the £26,000,000 expenditure on our armed forces. There are many millions of pounds stacked up in the Defence Fund: it should be used to buy the latest equipment”