DEFENCE VOTE

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1934, Page 2

DEFENCE VOTE

IMPORTED FUEL Danger in War Time (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 5. In the House this afternoon consideration of the estimates was continued. Speaking in 'the House of Representatives, Mr P. C. Webb (Buller) said that the provision of £117,000 on tho Estimates for aircraft was an indication that the Defence ajuthtorities appreciated ( the necessity for having modern aircraft? in tho event of wax but the Government was depending on foreign countries for the oil fuel to be used in these planes. He would like to see these machines supplied with oil fuel extracjted from New Zealand coal. The military authorities in Eng land and Australia appreciated, the in ad visibility of depending upon foreign countries for oil fuel, and were co-operating in a scheme for the ex pcnditure of £10,000,000 on the ex traction of oil fuel from coal in Aus;ralia. To spend tJh.ousa.nds of pounds ...n aircraft and then depend on foreign countries for fuel for the aircraft was absurd, and New Zealand should follow the example of Australia and Great Britain, which had spent huge .’urns of money on extracting oil and petrol from their own coal to serve ’.heir aircraft. If the Minister was really serious about making 'the mili tivry machine effective fo T defence, tho first essential was to ensure that there would be a supply of fuel when requir ed. The only logical thing to do was to set up hydrogenation plants to extract oil and fuel from the Dominion’s own coal, which was available in abun dance. Touching mlore closely the

amendment, it was his intention to support it, as all wars had been shown to be the product- of .economic con diet, and. so long as that source of wi-.r existed, so long would there bo war. War, like unemployment, was the. inevitable outcome of tine capitalist system of socie|ty. Referring 'to the criticism, of the Defence Department vote, Mr Cobbe said he thought members would agree is was time the coast defences were ?•:lengthened. The present guns would be of little use in dealing with a modern cruiser or raider. The new guns have considerably greater range than the present, guns, and Would be of the very latest pattern and have |the most modern ideas. What was being done was necessary and absolutely up-to-date. Mr Barnard moved to reduce the vote by £5O as a protest against £he increase in t'he vote while people were going without the necessaries of life. The amendment was lost by 37 to 18. ! Mr Semple asked the Minister how he proposed (to operate the air arm if trouble arose, and oil supplies were cut off. He suggested tha|t New Zealand should develop her own oil resources. Mr Cobbe said the question of crude oil development was not altogether one for the Defence Department, but fot a wealthy syndicate. However, the matter was being investigated, and the Navy had vessels running backwards and forwards bringing supplies of oil. The it(*ni was passed. On the Naval estimaites, M’r Barnard urged that training men for the Royal Naval Volunteer reserve should be Extended to small seacoast towns and not restrict i|t only to the four main centres. Mr Webb again urged the Government to develop New Zealand’s oil industry and extraction of oil from coal. He said the naval vessels should not have to depend on foreign countries fop oil and fuel supplies. The item was passed.