OPPOSITION CRITICAL OF LOWER NAVY VOTE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28660, 9 August 1958, Page 14

OPPOSITION CRITICAL OF LOWER NAVY VOTE

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 8. Criticism of the Government in cutting expenditure on recruiting for the Royal New Zealand Navy at a time when new suips were on order and trained personnel would be needed to handle their complicated technical equipment was expressed by Opposition speakers in the House of Representatives today during discussion of the vote on the Estimates for the Navy Department. Replying to the criticism, the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) said it was not considered the expenditure on recruiting had, in previous years, been. to the best advantage, and new methods were to operate. There was to be a greater concentration of training courses at H.M.N.Z.S. Philomel, which would reduce the need to send drafts overseas, mainly to Australia. Mr D. J. Eyre (Opposition, North Shore) said the White Paper had emphasised the dangers to New Zealand of the submarine menace in the event of war, but expenditure on exercises with submarines was being reduced and unless extra anti-sub-marine frigates were ordered now they could not be obtained without a great increase nr-cost. Mr T. P. Shand Marlborough) said the Navy vote was reduced by £1.5 million by the expedient of paying for current expenditure out of the Defence Fund Reserve. That reserve could not stand up continually to that practice without effect. Mr D. C. Seath (Opposition. Waitomo) said the Navy was most concerned over the proposed move

to Woodbourne. All . training operations should be conducted near the established base at Auckland. Mr Seath said he was disturbed by the drop in recruitment. At a vital time, when new ships were arriving, recruiting was not being stepped up. In addition, recruits from the Royal Navy were not to be maintained, and the scheme was to be cancelled. That would mean a great foss to New Zealand in experienced and highly-trained men.

Mr Connolly said it wouldbe 1961 before the Woodbourne scheme no-one regretted the decision not to proceed with the scheme more than he did. It would cost about £l.B million, and the great difficulty was to obtain the necessary money. The college would take four years to complete. But if the previous Government had made a more determined effort to establish it, the college would have been completed next year. Mr Connolly said it would be 1961 before the Woodbourne scheme could operate, but the question was still under consideration and an alternative site was being examined. He said that money from the Defence Fund was being earmarked, £1,810,000 for the two new frigates, and £190,000 for stores for H.M.N.Z.S. Royalist.

Submarines would continue exercises with New Zealand frigates. He realised the importance of maintaining such training exercises, he said. Mr Connolly said decisions to scale down expenditure in various ways had been made, but it was hoped to maintain the vote at its present level, for the next year. Much v 3uld depend on the state of sterling funds.