DEFENCE COUNCIL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20259, 29 May 1940, Page 6

DEFENCE COUNCIL

EARLIER BODY

CRIPPLED BY QUARREL SUSPENDED IN DECEMBER Grave/doubts regarding the future of the new War Council, which the Government proposes to set up, are raised by an examination of what has happened to the Council of Defence, which is supposed to be the Government’s chief advisory body on all matters affecting the Navy, Army and Air Force, says the Auckland Herald. The council was formed in 1937. According to statements made last month, it ceased to function early in December, 1939, merely because of a personal disagreement between the late Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. .1. Savage, and one of its members, Mr. J. A. Lee, and apparently it has not since been called together, although the Dominion is at war. Functions Explained Explaining the functions of the council in 1937, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said it would co-ordinate the activities of the boards controlling the three services. “It. will really be an advisory board,’’ the Minister explained, “comprising the chiefs of the three services and representatives of the Government, and will make recommendations to the Cabinet, which, of course is tire final authority. I anticipate that the system, when it is thus reorganised, will operate in an entirely satisfactory manner.” The personnel of trie council, as originally constituted, comprised, the Prime Minister, as chairman, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Fraser, the chiefs of staff of the three services, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., and the secretary to the Treasury, Mr. G. C. Rodda. Major W. G. Stevens was nopoineed secretary. It was stated that no statutory authority was needed for creating the council. Criticism and Reply In his letter announcing his resignation from the Labour Party early in April, Mr. Barnard stated: “The Defence Council of which I am a member, was never fully consulted over New Zealand’s commitments. It has not been consulted at all during the past four months, because it has not met since the first week in December.” An explanatory statement was issued by the then deputy-Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser.. “Mr, Lee and Mr. Barnard,” he said, “were co-opted to the council by Mr. Savage. After the personal attack on Mr. Savage in December last and the subsequent action taken by the Cabinet, the late Prime Minister considered it impossible to continue to hold meetings, bu‘ the work of the council was carried out by t.he Ministers directly associated with war activities, meeting in frequent consultation with the. chiefs of staffs. Subsequent events amply justified the Prime Minister’s action.’’