DEFENCE ESTIMATES

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1933, Page 7

DEFENCE ESTIMATES

LABOURITES AND THE NAVY WASTE OF MONEY ALLEGED [l’EB PEESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, December 8. Consideration of the estimates was resumed in the House of Representatives, this evening. Doubt as to whether New Zealand was getting value for the money spent on naval defence was expressed by Mr Langstone, when the estimate of £405,245 for naval defence was submitted. “Does the Minister think our tin pot navy will be of any use in. Ihe event of an attack by Germans, Japanese or anyone else,” he asked. “We must have spent tens of thousands on manoeuvres in Hauraki Gulf. Spending money is all right, but there are right and wrong ways of spending it. It would be better- to spend it on bread for hungry people than on powder and shot.” Mr Langstone added that if the money were spent on the same form of aerial defence, it might be possible to hold off a foreign invader—not that he contemplated foreign invasion. He asked whether the Minister thought the navy would be able to deal with a crisis if it occurred. Mr Clyde Carr said the Minister had stated last year that it was policy of the Government progressively to decrease naval expenditure, yet there was an increase in this year’s vote: “It is only pretence maintaining these boats for all the use they would be, particularly in the event of an attack by air,” he declared. Mr Lee said he believed that New Zealand’s best method of preparing to defend herself would be to develop the country and build up a population. However, he thought better technical results than were being obtained today could be procured with less expenditure. It must be questioned with some of the obsolete units we possessed whether we were getting value for money, and he considered that better results could be obtained from aerial defence. “Is it proposed to bring the navy into police Samoa because the civil authorities are bungling,” Mr Lee asked. “It has been done before.” Mr Cobbe said that Mr Lee’s reference to the possibility of the navy going to Samoa had been the first he had heard of it. There was no intention of doing so. “I should be

VERY SORRY TO THINK those members of the Opposition, who have spoken, are expressing the views of the Opposition as a whole,” the Minister said, adding he was satisfied that that was not the position. The British navy had had a very proud record and had practically built up our Empire. “Although our division is very small, the men on these cruisers would be prepared to do their duty,” he said. “There have been many instances in history when a few British ships have given a splendid account of themselves. I would remind members of Sir Richard Grenville.” (hear, hear). Continuing, the Minister said the work of the New Zealand navy had been of considerable value. Mr Lee: Do you think we are getting the best results for the money spent? Mr Cobbe: Considering we have onb r two ships, we are getting excellent results. No one can question the efficiency of our navy. Mr Hargest said the cost of the navj r to the people of New Zealand was was only 5/- a head. He was convinced that remarks made by Labour speakers did not represent the views of the majority of the people. Mr Sykes said the British navy was the most important factor in keeping the Empire intact, and he was convinced that enough was not being spent in naval defence.

Mr Wright said there were a number of people in New Zealand who were doubtful whether the ships of the New' Zealand navy would be of any value in the case of a first-class war.

The vote was passed. The estimate of £229,000 for the Defence Department was also passed.

PENSIONS AND MINES.

Discussing the vote of £3,289,952 for the Pensions Department, Mr Parry said it was quite obvious from the Auditor-General’s report that some cuts in pensions had been imposed a month earlier than they should have been. He asked what action the Minister had taken regarding the matter. Mr Fraser said apparently some Minister had given instructions that the matter of reduction should be put in hand. Mr W. Nash said the Minister must know that six weeks’ pensions had been affected. The Crown Law Office had recommended that it should be treated as payment on account. He advocated that December payment should contain the amount which had been deducted.

The Minister (Mr Cobbe) said he would have the matter investigated. He would endeavour to make a statement on the subject on Tuesday. The vote was passed. Discussing the vote of £24,000 for the Mines Department, Mr Langstono referred to rumours regarding public moneys and unemployment moneys, al. legediy for the aggrandisement of people who had some say in running the Mines Department and mining licenses.

Mr Macmillan: There is nothing in rumours that public moneys or unemployment moneys have been misappropriated. Mr Webb stressed the urgency for an increased grant to enable the use of diamond drills in prospecting gold areas.