OUR DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 18730, 4 September 1924, Page 2

OUR DEFENCE

A CURTAILED SYSTEM. AVIATION REQUIREMENTS. [From Due Parliamentary Deportee.] WELLINGTON, September 5. “ Recent events proved conclusively that where a deep sense of international injustice exists, or when the honor and prestige of a great Power arc involved, the settlement of such a vital question will almost certainly not be submitted to the League of Nations, or to any other outside arbitration,” remarks the Officer Commanding the Now Zealand Military Forces in his annual report to Parlif' 1 men*.

This indicates that the scheme of Defence at present is confined to maintaining a small nucleus, capable of immediate expansion if needed. “It is sometimes thought,” states the Commanding Officer, “ that in the returned troops of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force the dominion still possesses a thoroughly-efficient and available land force. Ago disability and domestic responsibilities have already reduced this fine body of troops to a very small proportion of effectives, and each year this reduction increases. Given adequate wo have in the youth and manhood of this dominion the finest material for the rapid production of the necessary defence forces; but the achievements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the late war, and the spontaneous response during the more recent Turkish crisis mnst not be allowed to outweigh the necessity of providing up-to-date equipment.” EXPERT INSTRUCTION.

The report stales that the officers, warrant officers, and non-commissioned officers of the New Zealand permanent forces have attained to a high standard, and as a bony are thoroughly competent for their administrative and instructional duties in peace; and will prove, as far as their limited numbers permit, an efficient and essential cadre for the New Zealand military forces should mobilisation for war become necessary. _ Retrenchment and subsequent resignations in the permanent forces have resulted in a corresponding increase in the work for those remaining in the service. Many, particularly those engaged in instructional duties, are overworked.

It is suggested, in regard to Territorial training, that if the best results are to bo obtained from the present expenditure BMence, and fullest advantage taken of the very limited time now available for training, it is obvious that the periods of continuous - collective training should be developed to the fullest extent possible during the coming year. During the past year ranch care and energy have been devoted to elementary, individual instruction. The training of Cadets, other than secondary school units, cannot reach a very high standard under present conditions; but good work is being done, and the results are, on the whole, satisfactory. It is a noticeable fact that the Cadet n.c.o.s of to-day are not as efficient and capable as those of a few years ago, most of whom passed through courses at the General Headquarters School at Trentham. AVIATION PLANS. The present strength of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force is four officers and seven of other ranks. The Now Zealand Air Force unit has 102 officers, a majority of whom are fully-qualfiied service pilots. Forty-eight officers were put through refresher training. The courses were much more comprehensive than those of tho previous year; but to be progressive extra equipment must be provided. It was not possible to “ refresh ” pilots on seaplanes, as the New Zealand Plying School had reduced its staff to one of caretakers, pending the decision by the Government upon the company’s offer tc sell its plant. The machines gifted by the_ British Government in 1919 are rapidly becoming unserviceable through fair wear and tear, and require replace ment. Three S.E. sA’s (single-seater fighter) are on order and due to arrive shortly, but six new training machines are required for Wigram Aerodrome, together with two-seater machines of service type. Both seaplanes and landplanes are essential for the defence of the commercial port of Auckland. Suitable aircraft will need to be purchased for that station when it is established, since there is no service type of seaplane in the dominion. Training sr-aplanes are few, and the only landplanes worth considering are already at Wigram Aerodrome.

The report, adds that, for the purpose of economy,_ it is necessary that the site of Auckland air station should he : (a) Suitable for the combined use ox land and seaplanes : (b) within the land defence system ; (c) easily accessible by land and sea transport. ACTING MINISTER'S VIEW'S. Following tho discussion on the presentation of the report, the Hon. Downie Stewart (Acting Minister of Defence) said the number of had been reduced from 128 in 1920 to 70, and the permanent staff and other ranks had been reduced in these four years from 208 to 115. At present a committee of the Cabinet was reviewing the whole system of Defence with a view to considering the criticism levelled against it, and seeing whether there was any way in which better value could be got for the expenditure, Dealing with the proposal to introduce the voluntary system, he believed that, in a country where there was a system such as New Zealand had, they could not revert to the voluntary system with success. The proposal to train only officers and n.c.o.s was attractive, but it was impossible to got efficient officers unless they had the opportunity of handling troops. He understood that most of the work in tho camp was in the nature of physical training, games, etc. He agreed that it was desirable to get rid of the half-day and night parades. These had been gradually reduced, and an attempt was being made to substitute six days’ training in camp and eliminate, as far as possible, the admittedly irritating night and part-day parades. It was not feasible entirely to do away with them in regard to artillery; but since 1914 drills had been reduced from thirty to twelve, half-day parades from twelve to six, and the seven days’ camp had been reduced to six days’ consolidated training.