OUR DEFENCES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 3

OUR DEFENCES

DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DETAILS MEN, HORSES, AND GUNS. Opportunity was afforded last evening by the discussion of the Defence Estimates for members of Parliament to ask questions in reference to the Expeditionary Forces and kindred matters, i and some interesting information was laid before the House of Representatives by the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister. Consideration was first given to the proposed vote of £194,998 for the Adju-tant-General's branch of the Defence Department. Mr. Dickson (Parnell) desired to know the intention of the Government, as regards filling the positions of certain officers who were returning to the Old Country.' Were the positions to be filled by New Zealand officers? He hoped the Minister of Defence could see his way clear to avoid as far as possible the importing of English officers. FILLING THE GAPS. The Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, replied that in regard to the positions held by the English officers who were going Home, it was intended, wherever possible to do co, to fill their places by New Zealand officers. He did not wish to lead the House to think that the Department could do that entirely. Colonel Heard had gone Home, and his place had been taken by Colonel Braithwaite, who was going with the Expeditionary Force. Colonel Braithwaite's place would be filled by Colonel Gibbon. When General Godley went away in command of the Expeditionary Force his place would be taken by Colonel Robin, a New Zealand officer. -As far aB possible New Zealand officers would be appointed to the positions rendered vacant by the departure of officers for the front. REGRET THAT THE GENERAL IS GOING. Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) expressed regret that Major-General Godley was going Home as commander of {he Expeditionary Force. It was liis personal opinion that if any crisis were to take place in New Zealand the people would prefer General Godley to b& here to take charge. , The Prime Minister : Which is better for the Empire ? Mr. Russell : It might possibly turn out better ' for the Empire later on if he remained 'in charge of things here. That is my personal opinion. He went on to say that he thought if further contingents were to be sent to the front the Government should extend the scheme of training. Outsido the ranks of the Territorials there were hundreds of, men who would be willing, to come out and receive training under the auspices of the Defence Department. Mr. Hanan (Invercargill) said that while they would probably, be sending away another contingent he hoped the Minister would not overlook the fact that the exports of the Dominion must be kept up. Therefore they could not drain the supply of labour of too many young men. - This point had been emphasised at Home. The hon. member nlso asked as to the position regarding the number of artillery guns ,left ( in .New Zealand for the defence of the Dominion. ! MINISTER'S REPLY FURTHER CONTINGENTS. The' Minister explained that the Government had l>een' considering , almost every day the necessity for sending further contingents and for assuring the maximum production of foodstuffs in the Dominion. The Prime Minister had already asked the people to grow more cereals, and he believed more land was being cultivated for the purpose. tVith regard to the sending of further contingents, the Government was prepared to fulfil its arrangement with the War Office, which is that they will send away a i'orce of the size of that which was now ready to go, if it was urgently needed ; and it was urgently needed. Within the past few days they had received a cable stating that more men were wanted. He had no doubt the call for them would be answered. Replying to a question whether it was wise 'to send away fiaW guns with the Expeditionary Forces, the Minister said that the Government's bargain was to send a six-gun battery. But within the last few days — last Sunday as a matter of fact — it was settled that the Dominion should supply the number of guns which was originally asked for, but which the Government could not agree at first to send — a brigade of three four-gun batteries. That would leave in i»ew Zealand unite an ample number of field guns, In the opinion of the General Officer Commanding, for all the needs. of New Zealand. In addition, there was left a howitzer battery, as well as all tlfte old 15-pounder3, except a few sent to Samoa, and an ample supply of ammunition. "Our field artillery," he said, "is ample, and 1 think we can well spare this brigade." Another question was with regard to the fortification of the ports, Mi. Hasan having asked whether some of the secondary ports should not be fortified. Auckland and Wellington, said the Minister were well defended, and he would thoroughly like being in the batteries if either of the bcharnhorst or the Gneisnan came into range of them, and would enjoy the evening's sport. Lyttelton and Otago harbours were amply 'defended for their needs. Otago Rarbour was au exceedingly difficulty one to enter — so difficult that he had been told that do ship was at all likely to attempt. to go in there. It was defended, too, by a particularly fine lot of men. GIVING OF THEIR BEST. Answering questions lelating to General Godley, the Minister said that the General's engagement in New Zealand would terminate thirteen months from now ; and like the other officers who were going with the force, he was under engagement to come back when the war was over unless his term had by then expired. Whether it was right that General. Qpdley should be sent .away was . a question which he felt he must answer for the sake of the House and of the people. He had no hesitation in saying that they would bo lacking in their duty if they did tnot send the best man they had available. The lives of 8000 men were in the the hands of this officer, and they must be given into the charge of the best man available. Further than that there was the Government's duty to the Mother Country to send the best of everything they had. With regard to sending reinforcements Home for the Expeditionary Force at the front, the Minister explained that the arrangement made with the Defence Department was that 20 per cent, should be sent within" four or five weeks after the departure of the main body, and aaothor five per cent, subsequently. He believed that the Government and Parliament were willing to comply with that arrangement. (Hear, hear.) After these men were cent away, the Defence Department would draw upon the general training section, then upon ex-officers, and then ex-volunteers for their services. Hoj^oke in terms of. praijeo and grati-

tude of the splendid practical patriotism which was being demonstrated throughout the Dominion. CONVOYS. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) emphasised the necessity for pioviding a strong convoy for the main body of the Expeditionary Force. He did not believe the statement in a newspaper that the convoy for the Advance Detachment from New Zealand to Noumea consisted only of the Philomel and Pyramus clas». These vessels were not equal to the Scharnhorst, Gueiseneau, and Numberg, which were in the South Sea. He hoped the Minister would make sure that the 8000 men who would be leaving the Dominion shortly would have a strong convoy. The Hon. Mr. Allen, in reply, stated that the question of convoy was in the hands of the Imperial authorities. No troops had left the Dominion without consent of the Admiralty, and when they had gone the Admiralty had given the assurance that the convoy was sufficient to take them safely to their destination. The first lot went away on the Admiralty's advice and responsibility. CONDITION OF TROOPSHIPS. Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North) referred to the sleeping accommodation on the troopships for the men, and pointed out that the bunks were only open in the front. He felt sure that there would be a lot of sickness during the voyage owing to the ventilation between decks. The Minister replied that the matter had been fully considered by the medical authorities. He ventured to say that no troopships had ever gone out from any port in the British Dominions so well provided. Members : We are glad to hear it. I HORSES FOR EXPEDITION. i In regard to the horses, the < Minister said he had received a report in regard to the Auckland horses that they were now a fair lot, and many of them better than they looked. (Laugher.) Throughout the whole of the camps the horses as a rule were fairly good. It was difficult to secure all the horses they wanted for artillery and draught, purposes. Personally he had been rather astonished at the comparative excellence of the horses • — they were an exceedingly good lot. The lighter horses for mounted men were fairly good also. It might be necessary for the Government to 'coVisider later the question of doing something to encourage the breeding of horses suitable for artillery and mounted rifle purposes. The Prime Minister pointed out it .was the very worst eeason of the year for horses so- far as appearances, were concerned. In cix weeks or two months they would be a very different class of horses to look at. The horses he 1 had seen at Christchurch in the camp were a particularly good lot. He had expected there would be more difficulty in securing horses. He believed they ought to go in for breeding suitable horses for remount and artillery purposes. He did not think they had quite the horsee in the' country they had prior to the South African War. They would have to • prepare for the future. Personally he did not believe in taking away the younger horses. SEASONED VOLUNTEERS. The Minister, after referring to the willingness of ex-volunteer s to serve the Empire, explained that the present age limit -was 35 years. It had been suggested to raise the limit to 40 or 45 years. This would enable many experienced men to volunteer for active service. He hoped to make an announcement in the course of a few days. The Prime Minister, at a later stage, said lie believed it would be an advantage to have a few more seasoned 'men with the- forces than were now going. (Hear, hear.) He eaid that without any disparagement of those men. The proposed votes for , the other branches of the Defence Department, representing a total Bum of £512,001 as against £488,570 expended last year, were passed Avithout alteration.