BIG CUT IN DEFENCE FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 144, 16 December 1930, Page 12

BIG CUT IN DEFENCE FORCE

NECESSITY OF REDUCING EXPENDITURE

MAJOR-GENERAL, YOUNG RETIRING

After a careful invesligalio n of the whole of the Defence Department, the Minister (ihe Hon. J. G. Cobbe) 10-day announced his reorganisation scheme. He said that it was essential in view of the big reduction of Lhe Defence Vole that there should be retrenchments in the present system, and these had been carried out so as to inflict the least possible hardsli ip on the officers of the service, particularly the returned soldiers. A. number had been transferred to the civil branch of the Defence J department, others to oilier departments of the Public Service, aud several had been retired on superannuation. The Minister emphi isised the fact that in spite of the curtailment of the Department it could speedily be expanded along efficient lines should the necessity arise.

Mr. Cobbc said that steps were beiug taken to reduce the personnel of the Department, so as to bring the cost within the amount appropriated by Parliament. The Defence Department's Vote was reduced from £490,----000 (£454,824 expended the previous year) to £275,000 for the present year, and formal steps were being taken immediately to .notify those whose services it was considered- could bo released at the present time with the minimum of hardship to the individuals concerned and of inconvenience to the Department. The total number retiring was approximately 110. Of this number, 75 were being retired under the special statutory provisions which were incorporated in the finance Act of last session, to enable them to obtain the benefit of a retiring allowance on superannuation. Among the total number being retired were 49 returned soldiers, 37 of whom were being retired on superannuation, and in four other cases endeavours were being made to place them in other position;: A number of positions had been reduced, and in -certain instances placed on a civil basis for the future. TOTAL SAVING. The annual saving effected in salaries by the retirements and the reduction would bo approximately £4.7,----000. The retirements would take effect as from tho 31st March next, although the persons would cease duty almost immediately, being granted leave of absence upon retirement prior to that date. It is understood that the notices of retirement affect several of the senior officers of the Department, and also that the General Officer Commanding, Major-General R Young, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., has intimated his desire- to retire with the other officers of the Department, but at the request of tho Government, he lias expressed his willingness to remain on active duty until the 31st March next, and the Government has accepted 'liis oiler, so as to obtain the benefit of his advice and experience in connection with the reorganisation and the necessary adjustments in staff that will follow on the retirement of the officers above referred to. BALANCING- THE BUDGET The Minister added that tho present Government generally, and ho himself i personally, had beo.u subjected to criticism in certain directions for taking steps to curtail expenditure in the Dofence Department, lie wan aware of j the unpopularity of such a step at tho outset. An attempt was being made by tho Government to balance the Budget without having recourse to additional taxation, for extra taxation during times of depression might be a serious contributory cause in delaying recovery to normal business conditions. The only alternative to increased taxation at the present time was to reduce expenditure, and a logical review of the avenues of reduction would in the first instance bo directed to the unproductive expenditure of Government. Defence expenditure was essentially non-productive. It was true that it was in the nature of an insurance, to protect existing wealth, but it did not.

i develop existing or new sources of wealth. There was a limit to the extent to which expenditure for such purpose was justified, and this fact became more evident during times of financial Stringency. NATIONAL SECUKITY. It might be argued that national see Jirity was essential for economic dev'.elopment, and that expenditure on d efence was therefore incidental to production, if not directly productive. But in times of depression public cxpenditn re had to be reviewed and restricted to the barest minimum contingent with sajxty, just as in private business, and in view of the decision of the Govcrnmei it to restrict the training, the time was opportune to secure a large mono.tary" saving by the proposed reorganisation.. •'■'ln giving effect to the reductio. us, which policy, it may be pointed out, had also been adopted in oth. etc countries for similar reasons," said, the Minister, "care has been taken to avoid a curtailment of the orga. uisation to such a degree as to render it incapable of efficiently carrying 0.11 under existing conditions or of speedy expansion along efficient lines sViould the necessity arise." THE OFFICERS AFFECTED The follcnving is a list of some of the officers affo cted by the retrenchment decisions of the Government:— Gonxu-al Headquarters. Major-Genc'ial E. Young, General Ofliccr Comni anding the New Zealand Military Foreies. Lieut.-Coloriiol H. E. Pilkingtou, Quar-terniastcr-GciH'ral. Lieut.-Colone/l H. M. Griffon, Director of Financial Services. Major Gibbs, staff officer to Now Zealand Medical Corps. Major T. Fairr, Adjutant-General. Lieut. MulhoVland, Officcr-iu-Chargo Permanent Foreo Records. Central Command. Brigadier IT. %Vhyte, officer in command of Central ■ Military Command. Major S. G. Sajulle, Assistai\t Adjutant and Quartermaster-General. Southern Command. Brigadier M. M. Gardner, officer commanding Southern Command. Licut.-Coionel 11. B. Smythe, staff officer, Southern Command. Northern Command. Major H. C. Glciudining, Assistant, Adjutant and Quartermaster-General. Eegi mental 1 districts. Lioutcnttnt IC. Tingo.y, Auckland. Captain Ford, Ngarn'awahia. Cajitain W. Bcllj Ordnance Corps, Trentham. Lieut. Gallaghev, ForV. Dorset. Lieut. Ivimey, Napier. Civil Stafl'. Air. G. F. Eudkin, GM.Q. Mr. H. G. Porteous, G.'ljl.Q. Mr. E. -M' Cardie, G.H.Q . Mr. F. A. Genet, G.HiQ. Mr. R: Fordyce, G.H.Q. ' Staffi-ScrgcaufJ. W. N.&sbit, G.H.Q. Mrs. Bracey, typist, G.H.Q. Miss Napier, typist, Basic Kecords. Miss Larchin, typist, Biftckle street. Mr. S. Pope, G.H.Q. Staff-Scrgt.-Major A. ' Thompson, G.H.Q.