N.Z. DEFENCE POLICY

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1938, Page 8

N.Z. DEFENCE POLICY

MINISTER’S OUTLINE Endorsed by Defence League [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 19. Gratification at the programme out lined by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) in regard to air defence and land forces, was expressed by the New Zealand Defence League. In a statement, the League endorsed the policy of obtaining mechanised units, and stressed the need for increased land forces. “We are in serious need of more trained men,” says the statement “Our young men are not attending territorial camps in sufficient numbers to enable a sufficient proportion o: the population to be adequately trained. More trained man-power is absolutely essential for supporting other branches of the service.” The statement continues that the Minister invites the co-operation of all citizens, and the League hopes that all the people of New Zealand will respond to the Minister’s appeal. After drawing attention to its willingness to co-operate with the Government in the provision of adequate defence forces, it adds: “The League hopes that other members of the Cabinet will follow the lead of the Minister of Defence, and do their utmost to ensure that New Zealand defence forces will be adequate in the event of any emergency.” “As Dominion President of the Defence League,” said Mr Perry, M.L.C. ] to-dav, “I would say we welcome the fact that the Minister of Defence has made a comprehensive statement of the defence position as it exists in New Zealand. We have not yet been; able to call our national executive to-| gether to discuss the statement in detail, and in the meantime, I. am not prepared to make any comment on it.”

Territorial Increase

APPEAL TO BUSINESSMEN

BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AUCKLAND, May 18.

An appeal to members of tne Auckland Chamber of Commerce not only to grant to members of their staffs who were territorials the necessary leave to undergo training, particularly for the annual six days’ camp, but also to make up the difference between their army pay and the pav from their business, has been made by the president, Mr. Arnold Ely. He says that the aim to establish in the Territorial Force, by voluntary enlistment, 9,000 trained officers, noncommissioned officers, and men, to maintain the security of New Zealand, was dependent on the backing of the community, as well as tht spirit of service of the fit and keen men who joined up. At present the force was 1,500 men below establish | ment, and the most serious aspect was, that an average of only 50 per cent., of those serving attended the annual, camps this year. To effect the im | provement required, the co-operation of all employers was needed. The I Government, the largest employer inj New Zealand, had given the business] community a definite lead in the mat

ter by generous special leave and facilities.

Complaint by Four Officers MINISTER’S STATEMENT INADEQUATE. WELLINGTON, May IS. The view that the statement on defence made at Dargaville by the Minister for Defence (Hon. F. Jones) is inadequate, is expressed by four senior officers of the New Zealand territorial force in a manifesto. 'The officers, all of whom formerly commanded brigades, state:— “Sensible of Ihe duty cast upon us as senior officers of the Neu Zealand territorial force, and of the grave responsibility which we must share in the event of that force being called upon to assist in the defence of this country, we seized the opportunity of exchanging our respective views while attending a recent senior officers’ course at Trentham. We thm discovered unanimity of opinion on certani matters affecting the territorial force ■which we had not had an opportunity' till then of realising. On Friday, May 6, we were granted an interview with the Minister for Defence, when we placed before him our views, and ways and means by which we considered this grave state of affairs could be remedied. After a most courteous hearing by the Minister, he promised to issue a statement.

"After the meeting, it was realised that the Minister had not given usl any time within which this statement ] would be issued. We then requested the chief of the general staff, Major General J. E. Duigan, to request the Minister to nominate such a time; but also to intimate to the Minister that we would consider the expiry of, two weeks to be an undue delay in the face of what we considered to be an urgent state of affairs. We further agreed that if such a statement was not issued within such a period, or, if issued, was inadequate to achieve the results desired by us, that we would publish our considered opinion. Such statement has now been issued, and we consider it inadequate. We therefore make the following statement. "Conscious of the very poor measure of support accorded to the forces by the public, we find it necessary to inform them of our opinions, in the hope that the country itself may decide whether or not it requires a territorial army. If it decides that such a force is a necesity, then it must assume the duty of supporting those volunteers who have been endeavouring loyally to preserve a nucleus of a territorial army for many years past, with little or no public assistance. This action is taken by us solely for the purpose of ensuring that an adequate and efficient land force shall be available for the defence of New Zealand. We claim intimate knowledge of the problem of our defence, and the state of unpreparedness now existing. We realise that, r senior volunteer officers on the active list of the territorial forces, we have a duty to place on record what we believe to be facts:— "1. That the present organisation and establishment of the force is insufficient for the defence of New Zealand. “2. That the number of volunteersi trained and in training is insufficient to complete the establishment as at| present laid down. "3. That the standard of physiqurand training of the serving volunteers in some cases is such as to render them unsuited for the purposes of ex-

pansion of the present organisation in time of need.

"4. That the morale of the existing volunteers is being snapped by successive reduction in strength, and lack of public support—that we fear the. disintegration of our present skeleton unless definite support is accorded by the Government and people, and assurances are given that the force is desired, and will be fostered.

“That, in our opinion, the failure of the present volunteer system woulr. not have occurred had the active support of successive governments been accorded our land forces since the inception of the voluntary system. “We are impelled to refer to the splendid and loyal service given by that silent department of our army—the officers of the staff corps and th? New Zealand permanent staff, whose duties have been, and are being, carried out under most disheartening conditions. Upon their snoulders the blame for failure will assuredly be visited. Should our forces be called to action, the fault will not be tfieirs. In conclusion, we hesitate to mention the effect of this statement on our own personal positions as military officers. However, we would like the people of New Zealand to realise that the gravity of the situation is such that we feel all personal considerations must be put aside if we are to carry out our duty to our country as citizens and soldiers.”

WHO THE SIGNATORIES ARE. The officers signing the above manifesto are al) officers on the active list of the Territorial Forces. They all commanded the brigades enumerated until the reorganisation of last year, when they were retained, and posted to the colonels’ list of the force. Of I he two other officers on the colonels’ list, Colonel R. C. Milligan is at present in England, and Colonel S. D Mason is not. a party to this statement. The officers signing it are Colonel C. R. Spragg, who served with the Fourth Rough Riders in the South African War, served with the Wellington Mounted Rifles in Gallipoli and in Palestine. He is commander of the First Mounted Rifle Brigade in the northern district, and is well known" in the Auckland district as a farmer, and ror his interest, in the dairy industry. Colonel N. L. Macky, M.C., served with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in the western Egypt campaign and in France. He is commander of the First Infantry Brigade in the northern district, and is {t solicitor. He is a partner in the firm of Russell, McVeagh, Macky, and Barrowclough. Colonel A. S. Wilder D. 5.0., M.C.. served with the Wellington Mounted Rifles on Gallipoli and in Palestine. He is commander of the Second Rifle Brigade in Wellington and is a sheepfdrmer at Waipukurau. Colonel R. F, Gambrill, M.C., served with the Wellington Infantry Battalion in Gallipoli and France. He is commander of the Second Infantry Brigade in Wellington. He is a solicitor, and a partner in the firm of Nolan and Skeet, solicitors, Gisborne Military Remounts SUBSIDY FOR STALLIONS. WELLINGTON, May 19. Subsidies for the owners of stallions tin to, but not exceeding, a maximum of £l5O a year are provided for in Remount Subsidy Regulations which have been issued under the Remounts Encouragement Act, 1914, and are published with the Gazette to-night. The Regulations authorise the Minis-

ter of Agriculture to appoint Remount Committees, as the need arises Each committee is to consist of three members, holding office during the; pleasure of the Minister, and appointed, under consultation, with represen-. tatives of the Executive Committees' of the Royal Agricultural Society of, New Zealand, the Racing Conference.] and the New Zealand Trotting Con-| ference, and the New Zealand Hunts and Polo Associations. ]

The committees’ functions will. be to select and recommend stallions for subsidy; to define the districts under the scheme; and generally to do what - ever, in the opinion* of the committee, may be necessary for the effective administration of the Regulations.

The Regulations also provide for the inspection of stallions by mem- 1 bers of the committee, who are required to report as to whether or not, in their opinion, any stallion is of a type whose progeny would be suitable for military purposes. The Min-j ister will decide, after considering the' reports of the committees and the| Government veterinarians, whether a, subsidy should be granted in respect of any stallion, and his decision is final and binding on all parties. AIR FORCE COURTS MARTIAL. WELLINGTON, May 19. Dealing mainly with the powers of Courts Martial in the New Zealand Air Force, Regulations of 1938 arc issued with the Gazette to-night. They give to the Governor-General the same powers in the appointment of officers for these tribunals as are enjoyed by his Majesty the King in England, and also confer on the New Zealand Air Board similar powers to those enjoyed in these matters by the Air Council in England. Britain’s Oil HOME PRODUCTION. RUGBY, May 18. The recommendation in the report published in February of the Subcommittee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, on the home production of oil in relation to economic pos-l sibilities and security, has been accepted by the Government. In announcing this, in answer to a Commons question, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that provision was being made in the Finance Bill to give effect to the recommendation for the extension for 12 years Oi the guaranteed preference of 8d per gallon on home-produced motor spirit and Diesel oil for use in road vehicles, subject to the adjustments recommended by the committee. i