Selective Compulsory Military Training

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 10

Selective Compulsory Military Training

fFrem Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, May 26. A plan for a selective compulsory military training scheme to provide the New Zealand Army with two brigades each of about 6000 men is understood to be the key proposal in defence recommendations made to the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) by his military advisers. The Government’s review of defence policy, promised some time ago, is expected to be before the Cabinet on Monday. Much of the ground work for planned reforms of the present system has been in the hands of the Chief Military Adviser (Sir Stephen Weir) who, in the last week has had several discussions with Cabinet members. If this scheme is approved by the Cabinet, about 12,000 young men will be called up for military service. The two brigades would be additional to a regular army expanded by about 700 men from Its present strength of 5300 to form a third brigade.

The cost of such a scheme is not known, but it would be sufficiently high to justify trimming expenditure for the Navy and Air Force. It is argued that these services cannot profitably take part in a system of compulsory military training. I It is understood that Mr Eyre and a substantial number of his Cabinet colleagues are opposed to the plan put before them by military advisors to close down the RN.Z.A.F. flying boat base at Lauthala Bay. Fiji. This might save £200.000 a year and would involve the repatriation of 148 families concerned with the operation of the base Similarly. Mr Eyre is [believed to have strong support in opposing another | recommendation that New [Zealand should no longer hire | from the Royal Air Force a i squadron of Canberra bombers based on Singapore This recommendatirn would involve the transfer of the New Zealand-based Canberra squadron to the South-east Asian theatre Backing of Treasury Both of these recommendations, aimed at cutting down expenditure by about £400.000 a year, are understood to have the backing of

the Treasury. The Air Force view, which appears to have strong support from Mr Eyre and other Ministers, is that one squadren of Canberras could not effectively be maintained in operation in Southeast Asia without a squadron in New Zealand to support it. Any appreciable cut in Canberra strength, therefore seems unlikely, but it is possible that the Cabinet may agree to some reduction in strength of the Lauthala Bay squadron. New Zealand is the only country still operating Sunderlands. and no suitable fly’rg boat replacemen' is in sight. . Little has been nut forward that would alter the strength or role of the Royal New Zealand Navy In view of strong Treasury pressure to curtail defence expenditure however, the placement of an order for a further frigate may be deferred or cancelled R.N.Z.A.F. Aircraft Curtailment of defence expenditure on this scale also suggests that hopes by the R.NZ A.F. of an extensive reequipment programme, in which Lockheed Hercules prop-jet and Avro Shackleton bomber aircraft were the respective favourites for the transport and maritime recon-

naissance roles, will aI9o fade. This would leave the R.N.Z.A.F. with its Canberras. its Hastings and Bristol freighter transports, and the three Douglas DC6 airliners recently purchased from TEAL. Questioned after the caucus rose tonight, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyaake) would not say whether or not there would be selective military training He said, however, that the National Government's White Paper on defence, in 1957. said there -was no further justification for universal military training, and that it would be better on a selective basis