PREPAREDNESS FOR DEFENCE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 11

PREPAREDNESS FOR DEFENCE

PLEA BY RETIRING AIR CHIEF

PREVENTION OF “EROSION” BY COMMUNISTS

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 11. There was a need for young New Zealanders to give their service for the future defence of the country, said the retiring Chief of the Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshal W. H. Merton) in a farewell address before his departure for England at the week-end. Air Vice-Marshal Merton said another war could be fought and won in weeks, or even days, and consequently leisurely preparations could not be considered. ' All thinking New Zealanders must be aware that, just as before the Second World War, people considered the frontiers of England to be on the Rhine, the frontiers of New Zealand and Australia could now almost be regarded as on the northern border 01

Indo-China. , . “If we are to stop the onward march of communism, we must, with the people of that area, together with the other seven member nations of SEAIO. prevent any further erosion, either by open aggression or subversion, he said. .. ... . “If Siam and Malaya go, it will not be long before the enemy is knocking on our northern door. After all, the area may be the Far East to the United Kingdom, but to us it is certainly very 1 much the Near North. “The need for New Zealand to give all possible support to SEATO therefore highlights the need for maintaining the armed forces, the Navy, Army Air Force, at a high state of readiness • and efficiency,” said Air Vice-Marshal

Merton. „ , . I He had talked with New Zealanders , who seemed oblivious of the fact that , any future war was likely to be fought and lost in a matter of weeks, days, or even hours, he said. All branches of i the services were vital to the safety > of the country, but he believed that air ’ power was the dominant factor. r Shortage of Maintenance Staff “There is one factor which gives me ’ cause for worry about the future, ’ • Air Vice-Marshal Merton said. “In an air force, it is no use having'first--1 class pilots, excellent base facilities, and modern aircraft—especially the

' latter, with their ever-increasing com- • plexity—unless we have the men and t women of the highest calibre to maintain them. . | “It is no secret that insufficient men are coming forward to join the service, . and what is almost worse, not nearly enough are undertaking long-term ser1 vice. Thus, besides being short of men and losing the depth of skill and ’ experience long service gives, we are having to use too many of our limited number of skilled men and too much ' of our money and resources to train rei placements. . “I am confident, in my own mind, . that if we are to get the men. and if we are to avoid wasting time and

money in training replacements for > men leaving the Air Force, we shall have to make the service more attrac1 tive, and ensure that men are not placed at too great a disadvantage in ’ comparison with their fellows in civilian life,” said Air Vice-Marshal Mert ton. , . , ’ “Leaving out rates of pay which are i now under consideration, I personally feel we would go far towards solving - our problem if we could pay men a substantial bounty on re-engagement and, possibly more important, if we > could get recognised the special claim of the armed forces for housing. 1 “After all, to be effective today, servicemen must be ready to accept ’ moves every two or three years. ’■The * disadvantage of service life, including the effect on the education of chil- | ' ren, would, I am sure, willingly be acl cepted if we could provide houses for families when they are transferred ir 1 r the course of duty from one station tc , another. We must strive to get them not only in the interests of morale anc > efficiency, but also in the interests o: 1 . economy,” said Air Vice-Marshal Mer ' ton. .