THE DEFENCE VOTE

Evening Star, Issue 20510, 14 June 1930, Page 10

THE DEFENCE VOTE

SUSPENSION OF GRANTS OTAGO OFFICERS PERTURBED At the weekly meeting of the Otago Officers’ Club, hold on Thursday evening, tho proposed changes in the defence system in the interest of economy were discussed at length. There was a good attendance of members, presided over by Lieutenant-colonel J. G. Jeffery, M.C. The chairman explained that tho annual grant to officers’ clubs had been cancelled as from April 1 last. Such action, ho said, would have a disastrous effect on the activities of officers’ clubs throughout New Zealand with the result that these clubs would no longer bo able to fulfill the purpose of their existence by providing a means of education for officers who, in the event of a future war, would be called upon to train and lead the manhood of the country. The action of the Government in abolishing the grant placed the Otago Officers’ Club in a peculiarly difficult position, as owing to the fact that the grant had been paid over a period of years and that future payments could bo reasonably expected, the club bad taken up tho lease of the promises at present occupied until November, 1931. Without the _ Government grant the club would find it difficult, if not impossible, to continue the lease. Tho value of officers’ clubs to tho country was unquestionable because the main object in the constitution of these clubs was not social or recreational, but was definitely for the purpose of the military education of tho officers who would be called upon to assume command in tho event of a national emergency. The total annual cost to the Government involved in the payment of grants to officers’ clubs in New Zealand amounted to £9OO, which was supplemented by ■ voluntary subscriptions from members. Tho chairman pointed out that as tho total amount of such subscriptions was more than double the amount granted by the Government it was evident that the officers themselves recognised tho advantages afforded them in tho furtherance of their military knowledge and education. The speaker maintained that there was an unquestionable ■ moral obligation on the. part of the Government to continue the grant to the Otago Officers’ Club, which in this case was devoted entirely to the payment of rent. This was not the first time on which difficulty had been experienced in Dunedin in connection with premises used for military purposes, and Colonel Jeffery reminded those present that in 1909, on the inception of the present defence system, the Garrison Hall buildings in Dowling street (now the chief post office) wore confiscated by the Government. Colonel Jeffery then invited Colonel E. R. Smith, C.8.E.. V.D., who was in command of the Otago Regiment (Volunteers) and a trustee of the Garrison Hall, to explain what had taken plimo at tnat time. Colonel Smith said that the hall had been built by voluntary subscriptions from the officers and citizens of Dunedin upon ground that bad been granted by the Provincial Government in exchange for the old drill hall site near the Boys’ High School. The ground included the present site of tho post office, and tho building formerly occupied by the ‘ Otago Daily Times' Cdmpany. These buildings, including the Garrison Hall, were erected as a result of the efforts of the volunteer organisatlons of those days. In constructing the buildings a heavy debt was incurred, and the responsibility for this was assumed by tho trustees. This debt was gradually extinguished by rents from the ‘ Otago Daily Times ’ building, by payments received from volunteer units (which payed £2B per annum for the use of the hall and offiand by amounts received as a re-

• < itertainraonts. In 1909, when the site and buildings were confiscated by the Government, their value amounted to £20,000, and tho debt had been reduced to £3;000 by purely local ■ enterprise and effort I'ho volunteer organisations of Dunedin therefore had a clear title to the property to the value of £17,000. By special Act of Parliament this ownership was cancelled, and the Government took over the title without paying a penny in compensation. Colonel Jeffery thanked Colonel Smith for his explanation, and said that it could not be denied that the Government was under the strongest moral obligation to assist and aid in every way the Territorial organisation in place of the old volunteer system. The speaker also touched upon the precarious position in which Territorial units were situated at tho present time. Notification had been received by all unit commanders that all grants for regimental bands, as well as unit capitation grants (2s per Territorial and Is per Senior Cadet), had been abolished. This, combined with the proposed drastic reduction in the defence vote, which included the abolition of training camps,, would have a most destructive effect, and would probably result in the complete wreaking of the present system of military training unless thd people of the dominion could bo roused and brought to realise the disastrous results of the policy of tho present Government. Colonel Jeffery went on to say that it was impossible to think that tho people of this country would consent to the wanton destruction of an organisation which bad produced, in time of the Empire’s greatest need, a division that established a Reputation second to none, and of which New Zealand was justly proud, in the event of a national emergency the Imperial Government would rely on New Zealand to furnish a similar division, and the speaker could not believe that the loyal citizens of New Zealand would be content to allow their Government to destroy tho only means the country possesses of fulfilling its obligations to the Mother Country and the Empire as a whole. *