SOME LIGHT ON DEFENCE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1943, Page 4

SOME LIGHT ON DEFENCE POLICY

In one respect, at leapt, the by-, election being fought in Christchurch East hag already had. a tonic effect, It lias encouraged the Government, through the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan), to break its silence on question! of vital eoneern to the public and to give information which has been preised fop unsuccessfully for some time. Iver since the' tot ballot, men in the 41 to 4S class and their <empi<syeri have feeeh wondering what toe Extent of-thei? military ©bjigettenp would. Fes, and. their uncertainty was increased when, ju.pt before the end of *he ye.ar> the Government announced that the whole question of mantpowe? was to fee surveyed and made the subject of a statement early in the New Year. A full statement of the Government's intentions is not yet forthcoming, but Mr. Sullivan, under the spur of the by "election, has revealed in part the policy to be followed* Satisfaction will be felt with his statement that married men in the 41-45 gpoiip are not to be permanently

mobilised, but that those men released from industry and for whom appeals \ have not been successfully made wiß be given a small, period of military training.. Further enlightenment as to '\ the length and nature of the service they will be expected to give will be : awaited. In view of the changed con,ditions» the way is open for a general overhaul of the country's defence, policy and for placing the emphasis not so much.on home defence as on making the best possible use of the available man-power. That does notj suggest that there should be any slackening of the war effort, but rather that it should: be given the maximum effectiveness. j Mr. Sullivan's statement that the! Government is giving consideration to the question of enabling youths between the ages of 18 and 21, whether university students or apprentices, the opportunity of receiving the training which military duties have interrupted is also welcome. The Army education scheme, now being put into operation, may not be sufficiently wide to cover these youths completely, $hd it is desirable, in the interests of the coun* try's future, that there should be the minimum interruption of study and training of youths at a critical stage of their lives. If the system of military training is to be altered, as suggested by Mr. Sullivan in the case of the 41-45 group, the benefits should certainly be extended to students and apprentices.