Minister Announces N.Z. Defence Policy

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1948, Page 6

Minister Announces N.Z. Defence Policy

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 5. New Zealand’s defence policy for the next few years was announced tonight by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones), its provisions include: NAVY.—New Zealand will keep in commission one cruiser now used for training and a flotilla of six anti-submarine escort vessels, kept fully operational, and one survey yessel. One cruiser will be held in reserve, as well as minesweepers and harbour defence craft. Th strength of the Royal New Zealand Navy will be raised in 1948 from 1580, to 1820 all ranks, andVthe target of 2000 all ranks should be reached by 1950. ARMY,—A Territorial Force will be established, terms of service and recruitment to be announced later when Regular Force personnel have been trained and are available. AIR FORCE.—The air defences will comprise the regular Air Force, a Territorial Force, the Air Training Corps, and a reserve. The regular force over four years will expand progressively to 4000 all ranks. (Today it is 2500.) For aircraft the Air Force will rely in the meantime on war-time surplus machines and the 80 Mosquitoes bought from Britain. SCIENTIFIC DEFENCE CORPS.—Approval has been given for the forming a Scientific Advisory Committee and a Scientific Defence Corps. New Zealand is sending two scientists to the rocket research project in Australia.

“In deciding the. size and composition of our Armed Forces, Mr Jones said: “Our object is to establish a basic organisation which in an emergency will develop with speed and efficiency the full war potential of New Zealand. The military organisation and plans for the future must take into account the possible effect of new weapons and scientific developments.

. .“Our immediate concern is the security of trade and communications, particularly in the Pacific. The Navy and the Air Force must be organised to discharge this role immediately in the event of emergency. In order to do so effectively, it is essential to maintain bases in the South Pacific Islands, notably Fiji, from which these defensive forces can operate .

Role of the Navy “The primary and immediate role of the Navy is the protection, in conjunction with the Air Force, of trade and sea communications in the South Pacific,” said Mr Jones. “It cannot be expected that in any future emergency we shall enjoy a long period of immunity from attack; the development of submarines has increased the dangers in which trade and communications with New Zealand may be placed. “To meet these various roles, and after consultations with the Admiralty, it has been decided to maintain in commission one cruiser at present in a training capacity, and a flotilla of six anti-submarine escort vessels fully operational, and one surveying vessel in constant employment. Additionally, one cruiser will be held in reserve in New Zealand, together with mine-sweepers and harbour defence craft. The anti-submarine escort vessels recommended by the Admiralty are Loch Class frigates and six of these, and a seventh vessel of similar size to be fitted out for permanent surveying duties, are being secured.

“The frigates selected will be named after New Zealand - lakes. .... They were all launched between March and August, 1944, and commissioned towards the end of that year. “The surveying vessel is still to be selected, although it will be acquired vzith the frigates. Whilst it will not be possible to man and accept all vessels simultaneously, immediate steps are being’ taken to receive the first two. Strength of Navy “The present strength of the Navy is approximately 1580, all ranks, including 150 Royal Navy personnel on loan, and 40 Wrens. This year the force -will be expanded to 1820, all ranks, while the target peace-time establishment of 2500 all ranks should be reached in 1950. “The R.N.Z.N.R. comprising personnel who follow the sea as a profession remains part of the post-war organisation,” Mr Jones said. “The R.N.Z.N.V.R. Headquarters are being renovated forthwith and plans allow for recruitment to begin on completion in three months’ time. The four Volunteer Reserve Divisions at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, when fully manned, will comprise approximately 200 officers and men to each Division. A R.N.Z.N. Volunteer Supplementary Reserve has also been formed, consisting of officers who have held temporary commissions in the New Zealand Neval Forces during the last war. The immediate manning of ships will be dependent upon these reserves. Work of Regular Force

: “It has never been the policy of New Zealand to maintaih a standing i Army ready to fight as an organised formation in war,” the Minister said. I “The most that we can do is to maintain an efficient regular cadre which will be responsible for the organisation, training, and equipment of the ' Territorial Force, and be the hard core of the land forces which, in the event of emergency, we must provide i for the defence of our own interests. “Before any territorial force can be established it is necessary to Have the regular component so ordered that it can effectively train and organise this force. Our first task, therefore, is the recruitment and training of the regular force, and this is now. proceeding. A territorial, force 'will be established and the terms of service 1 and the method of recruitment would be announced later when the regular personnel have been trained and are available for this work. The Air Force “The Air Force, like the Navy, because of the complex technical nature i of these services and the long train- ! ihg required, must be established I mainly on a full-time basis. . . . The R.N.Z;A.F. will be organised, trained, I and equipned to operate as a part of 1 the Commonwealth Air Forces and iin support of United Nations, al- ‘ though emphasis will be placed on its immediate responsibilities in co- ; operation with the Navy in defence lof trade and communications in the I South Pacific area. ; “The target plan for the Royal New ! Zealand Air Force, adopted after i consultation with Lord Tedder, proi vides for the establishment of a Rei gular Air Force, a Territorial Air '.Force, an Air Training Corps, and an Air Force. Reserve. The Regular .Air Force, on which the whole, organisation depends, will consist of Air Headquarters, a decentralised command organisation, five regular squadrons, and ancillary engineering, equipment, and training units. The regular sqadrons will comprise two long-range bomber reconnaissance squadrons, one fighter, one. transport, and one flying-boat squadron. Base in Fiji “It is desirable that advanced flights of one bomber reconnaissance

squadron and the flying-boat squadron should be located in Fiji. The arrangements governing the location of these squadrons in Fiji will be discussed shortly with the Governments of the United Kingdom and Fiji. “It is proposed to effect this plan progressively over the next four years, by which time the establishment of the Regular Air Force should approximate to 4000 officers and men. Today, the establishment is approximately 2500, ancsthis will increase at the rate of 500 per annum up to the approximate target figure of 4000 all ranks. ... It is proposed to develop Territorial Air Force units on a volunteer basis at the four main centres as soon as the resources of the Regular Air Force permit. “The Air Training Corps, which has been actively training since its formation in 1941, has now been established as an integral part of the R.N.Z.A.F. The corps will have a strength of approximately 5000 cadets, 2000 of whom will comprise city and country units and 3000 secondary schol units. “The major items of equipment for the post-war Air Force over the nekt four years have been retained from war equipment supplemented by the purchase of 80 Mosquito,aircraft from the United Kingdom. “During the war the Women’s Services in the three branches of the Armed Forces rendered outstanding service. . . . The organisation of the women’s services provides for a nucleus establishment on a regular basis, and these will be supported by territorial units. Science and Co-ordination “The organisation evolved provides for a Defence Science’ Advisory Committee composed of . the most .eminent scientists in various fields drawn both from Government departments and the universities. . . . The personnel of this committee will be announced later. In addition, there is an inter-departmental organisation which ensures that the activities of the three services and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are adequately co-ordinated. “The Government has also approved proposals for the establishment of a Defence Scientific Corps, the members of which will be recruited from university graduates with high qualifications. They would be appointed for a period of five years and while in the corps would be employed on the advice of the Defence Science Advisory Committee on defence science projects within the Commonwealth. The precise terms and conditions of employment in. the corps will be notified later. “The estimated annual cost of the Defence Scientific Corps is £25,000, but this amount will not be expended until about the fifth year of its establishment. ... At the moment arrangements are being made for two New Zealand scientists to proceed to Australia for work on the rocket project. Close Liaison “Before the war a small organisation was established, known as the Organisation for National Security, to co-ordinate defence plans and prepare the Government War Book. Though the organisation has not been recreated in this form, positive steps have been taken to secure co-ordina-tion of plans, particularly between the Armed Forces; these will be extended to cover co-ordination between both the Armed Forces and civil departments of Government. “An essential point of our defence policy is to maintain close liaison with other British Commonwealth countries and particularly the United Kingdom and Australia. For this purpose we have established joint service liaison staffs in London and Melbourne. Here in New Zealand the Australian Government has appointed a defence representative, while the representatives of the United Kingdom Chief's of Staff are expecte to arrive here about the middle of this year.”