DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23340, 9 August 1939, Page 3

DEFENCE

WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING i SOME DETAILS OF GENERAL MACKESY'S REPORT THIS YEAR’S EXPENDITURE £5,414,438 [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 8. When the Pacific Defence Conference concluded, the British military delegate. Major-general Mackesy was requested by the Government to report on the Now Zealand land forces. Though portions of the report are secret, Mr Jones, Minister of Defence, gave the House a number of extracts explaining how many of the proposals had been adopted, and others were under consideration. One of the recommendations, said Mr Jones, was that Territorial officers who were found not to be up to standard should be retired. Steps were being taken in that direction. It had also been proposed that special facilities be provided for training additional junior officers at schools of instruction, or in advanced training companies. Consideration was being given to the suggestion, together with a recommendation that Territorial officers be given greater responsibility for the administration of, as well as for the training of, their commands. The enforcement of the contract to serve for three years, made on enlistment, had been recommended by General Mackesy, who said that the breaking of the agreement should be held to be a shame and a disgrace. Public opinion should be educated on the point, the report said, the Minister adding that he was sure that during the next 12 months public interest would grow in favour of the Territorial service and that employers would agree to allow more men to go into camp. . Another recommendation that the Government was carrying out was extension of the special reserve scheme to units other than those trained for coast, defence. At Trentham camp a number of men were receiving vocational training. He was sure, if their work was noticed by employers, they would receive work when vacancies occurred later.

A proposal to allow special reservists to be transferred to other units had •been approved. The Minister added that further assistance would be given for vocational education of members of the regular forces. Cabinet had agreed to extend the scheme of .sending regular officers and n.c.o.s abroad, some to be on interchange. This had been recommended by the report, and an additional sum would be provided this year. It had also been decided to continue the schools of instruction, particularly in respect of recruit courses. . While the report recommended the utilisation of existing buildings or the provision of new ones for week-end camps, the Minister, said there was difficulty in obtaining such buildings. General Mackesy was in favour of a simplified drill, and thought too much time was wasted in pitching and striking camps. New' Zealand officers, however, were of opinion that such work was most valuable in the training of the men . • A recommendation that the period of training be extended from six to twelve days would be considered, said the Minister, but the difficulty of men obtaining leave had to be taken into account. The proposal would cost about £60,000. The . Government _ was . considering the question of obtaining suitable training areas near the main centres. As the report had recommended, steps were to be taken in that direction,' and the provision of additional drill halls and the modernising of others cost £B,OOO last year. This year it would cost £14.600. MOBILISATION CAMP.

“ It is recommended that we acquire a site for a northern mobilisation camp to complete the initial preparations in all three military districts,” said Mr Jones. “ This proposal is under consideration.” He added that the cost would be £IBO,OOO. Mobilisation plans were practically complete, and all ques-tions-in connection with that department were being pushed forward as rapidly as possible, as recommended by the report. OVERSEAS SUPPLIES PROBLEM. “ I do not know whether Major-gene-ral Mackesy realised the difficulty of obtaining supplies from overseas,” said the Minister, it was recommended that New Zealand should purchase specialised vehicles from Australia. It had to be rejtnembered that both the countries mentioned were using all their resources for supplying their own requirements. “We have made representations to Britain to speed up supplies for New Zealand,” he added. Mr Jones said that Major-general Mackesy’s report recommended provision of a full scale of modern fighting technical anti-tank aircraft, and anti■gas equipment. This could only be provided at enormous cost. On a peace basis the expenditure would be £1,200,000. Large orders had been placed for anti-tank guns, anti-tank rifles, respirator’s, anti-gas clothing, and Bren machine guns. Anti-tank mines were also on order. As it had been recommended that the Govern,ment should expedite the placing of orders for reasonable reserves, gun ammunition at a cost of £200,000 had been ordered, also small arm ammunition to the extent of £178.000. It would all bo delivered this year. There was difficulty in placing additional overseas orders. MOUNTEDS AND MOTORISTS. Another recommendation was that the Mounted Rifles be expanded into an establish,ment of two horse regiments and one motorised regiment in each district. This would be provided by an expansion of the Territorial Force, which had already been approved. The Territorial Force had been expanded by 6,000, and had been brought to its peace establishment of 16,000 in half the time anticipated. This would cost the country an additional £150,000, and from that point of view the increase in the petrol tax was fully justified. Steps were also being taken to raise the peace establishment of the heavy batteries and fortress battalions to_ war strength. An approximate expenditure of £25,000 was involved in the arrangements in hand to carry out the recommendation to establish district training centres for handling recruits on mobilisation. TOTAL ESTIMATE. The Minister invited members of the Opposition to suggest any avenue where money could be saved. 'When the esti-

pnates were considered tills year an amount of £3,313,438 would be provided for defence, an increase of £1,115,149 on the amount actually spent on defence last year. The total expenditure on defence for the current year, including amounts in the Works vote, would bo £5,414,438, an increase of £2,946,429 ovqr last year. Mr Poison (National, Stratford): The Defence vote is increased by some £3.000,000. The Minister: Yes. We have practically doubled up on expenditure this year compared with last year. Mr Jones concluded that when the Navy, Army, and Air Force wore fully equipped, he estimated the expenditure on defence would he about £-3,001),000 per annum.