HOME DEFENCE PUN

Evening Star, Issue 25618, 19 October 1945, Page 4

HOME DEFENCE PUN

READINESS TO MEET EMERGENCY

LESSONS OF PACIFIC THIfIAT

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. Oct. 19. New Zealand must not he stampeded by the fright it had had in the Pacific conflict, but it must, be prepared to meet the danger of war if it became likely again, Lieutenant-general E. Putt’ick, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, stated in an address'last night.

A satisfactory scheme of training for home defence could be prepared, he said, but any plan of defence formulated for New Zealand must provide first for the maximum contribution to the Empire forces for concentration, at strategic points. In the distribution of forces popular clamour should not be allowed, to out-weigh strategic considerations.

Local native forces could be trained in such forward areas as Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. These forces should be raised in peace time so that they would he there as first defence, and they should have adequate assistance from the nearest European communities. General Puttick said the best protection for New Zealand would he a strong naval force, but it was obvious that such a small community as ours could not maintain a strong navy. Similarly, New Zealand could not provide a local air foTce to give it adequate protection. Further, the Army could not provide itself with adequate modern equipment to cope with modern warfare. Therefore, home defence became a vital concern.

The equipmeut New Zealand had at the moment was considerable. It would become obsolete, but would still he of use in home defence and should be stowed away and kept in good order.

A regular army for New Zealand had been, advocated. A brigade group of 5,000 men would cost £1,750,000 to £2,000,000 a year in wages, food, and clothing. The equipment tor one division would cost approximately £B,000,000. This figure could be cut in half if civilian transport were used, though that was unlikely to prove satisfactory. This equipment would last about 12 years, so- the annual cost for one division, would be roughly £350,000 a year. Ammunition for the division would cost approximately £3.000,000. General Puttick added that no scheme of home defence would be of any value unless it could be planned within the limits of a small country’s resources.