DEFENCE OF N.Z.

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1941, Page 6

DEFENCE OF N.Z.

MINISTERIAL REVIEW

K SATISFACTORY PROGRESS ,

WELLINGTON, July 29. Speaking in the Budget debate tonignt, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, reviewed the work of the Navy. 'He gave details of the protection provided for the Dominion against attacks from the sea. The New Zealand naval forces consisted of the cruisers, Leander and Achilles, the armed merchant cruiser, Monowai, the Government vessel, Matai, ana rnree other vessels, the Gale, Rata, ana Muritai, which have been converted to mine-sweepers, and a large number of motor launches for patrol duties. In addition, three specially - d esigned minesweeping and antisubmarine vessels, which had been approved before the war to be built in Scotland as a training flotilla, were nearing completion, and would arrivein New Zealand waters before the end of the year. ' Nine steel minesweepers, he said, which were being equipped for antisubmarine operations, wfere being built in New Zealand. A flotilla to counter the menace by magnetic mines was being rormed, while three composite steel and wooden Trawlers are also being built, and a number of additions were plannea. A very forward policy of naval defence was being pursued, said the Minister, and tne Government was in constant touch with Britain and the rest of the British Commonwealth regarding the measures that would be necessary in tne event ot war e.xtenamg to tne Far East and the Pacific.

Discussing the naval personnel, the Minister gave details of increases that have taken place, and said there are now 349 officers and 3,823 . ratings serving at home and overseas, compared with 82 officers and 1257 ratings before the outbreak of war. Fortysix officers and 198 men of the Mercantile Marine were included in the present strength. There had been a good response to naval recruitings, and there were 2402 candidates awaiting entry. Mr. Jones then dealt with army activities, stating the total number of men in New Zealand who had received at least three months’ training since the outbreak of war, was more than seventy-three thousand. Those trained included both the Expeditionary Force and Territorial Force. More than seven thousand national reservists had also received training, and courses of instruction for officers and non-commissioned officers had been provided for 6,864 officers and other ranks at arms schools. Mr. Jones explained that, only preliminary training was given members of the Expeditionary Force in New Zealand, and when the men went to the Near East they finished off. Our men in Greece and Crete had made a name for themselves, and this could not be done unless they had been efficiently trained. The Minister also stressed the fact that the Dominion’s coast defences had been considerably increased since the war began. A very material increase had been made in the output of small arms ammunition. The supply of field artillery from the United Kingdom and India had brought this branch almost up to war establishment, and a full war establishment of medium machine-guns for the Territorials was now in the country. More than 1,808 machine-guns of various types have been added recently to the stocks.

“The Royal New Zealand Air Force is now a ‘force’ in every sense of the word,” said Mr. Jones, dealing with this branch of the services. Since the outbreak of war, the applications for enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F. totalled over thirty thousand, and the total personnel engaged in the Air Force in the Dominion was now well over eleven times greater than it was at the beginning of the conflict. Effort had not been solely directed to supplying personnel for the training in Canada, and for the Air Force in Britain, and to local requirements. They had to meet requests for the maintenance of a unit at one of the Pacific Islands.

Mr. Jones said he could assure the House that no stone had been left unturned to protect New Zealand from invasion, and the air training scheme alone, ensured that there always would be a large number of trainea personnel available in the Dominion in case of emergency. TERRITORIAL TRAINING.

WELLINGTON, July 30. Asked last night if any action has yet been taken to compel members of the Territorials to attend not only their three months’ training, but also subsequent parades, th© Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) said he hoped to make a statement this week on the matter. At present, it was compulsory for Territorials to do their three months’ military training, but they were not compelled to attend weekend and night parades, added Mr Jones. A decision was being approached, however, and an early announcement would be made. Mr Jones wafe also asked about provision for members of the Home Guard receiving pensions if injured during training. He said that Home Guardsmen were entitled, under the War Pensions Amendment Act, to the same treatment as serving Territorials, if- injured as a result of undergoing training.