PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 6 September 1929, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

; ESTIMATES CONSIDERED. THE DEFENCE SYSTEM. NAVAL VOTE INCREASED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 0. - The House of Representatives met at. 10.30 this morning. Mr P. Fraser gave notice of intention to introduce the Unemployed Workers’ Bill, number two. Discussing the annual report of the general officer commanding the defence forces of New Zealand, Mr W. J. Jordan said that it seemed unreasonable that while persons convicted by the civil court were dismissed from the forces, thereby gaining exemption, other young men who appealed for very good reasons were not granted exemption, lie also submitted that instead of raising Llic standard of fitness to keep ,|own the number of trainees, it would be preferable to take in those- young men who- were not as fit but wanted to serve, and to grant exemption to those who did not desire to enter the forces. It seemed to him that those who were physically unfit were more, in need of some sort of training than the others. He urged that the country should return to the volunteer system and should pay more attention to physical training.

Mr H. 11. Jenkins urged that the ammunition store at Devonport should he transferred to one o] the islands in the vicinity, or to some other place where it would not be a potential danger to, the populace. Mr F. Waite stated that it was quite wrong to assume that the Great War had ended wars. There had been more strife in the ten year s following that event than in the ten years preceding it. With such facts as naval competition, a submarine race, uneasiness in the Balkans, the present relationship between Germany and France, and the developments, in air and chemical methods of' warfare staring us in the face, we had to be prepared. He asked the Minister of Defence whether lie had worked out a scheme for conscription of other things besides men, in event of war, and he referred- to- the French system of conscripting the whole nation. He advocated payment to all people serving at home at the same rates which the ordinary soldier in the I field received. This, he added, might make, war less popular. Mr Ji. E. Holland (Buil-ler) said that the latter portion <jf Mr Waite’s remarks practically outlined the Labour Party's 1916 manifesto. He was glad to observe that there had been on© convert in the ranks of the Reform Party. Air Holland said that world peace was largely dependent on international relationship and arrangement an:! he asked the Minister what was his attitude towards New Zealand’s signing the optional clause of Statute •of the International Court of Justice.

Air A. Harris defended the present defence system and opposed the suggestion to grant exemption from service to any section of the community. He contended that tha. ultimate result of such a, course would be the breakdown of the defence of the country. Air T. W. McDonald asserted that a volunteer system could not in any way reduce the efficiency of the defence forces- of the Dominion. He believed 1 that the time had arrived for a com- 1 plete remodelling of our organisation, and that a huge sum of money could be saved without any loss of efficiency. Air W. H. Barnard said that the Labour Party intended next session to introduce a defence Bill of its own, and it might almost be embolded in consequence of Air Waite’s, remarks to include some provision for conscription of wealth in the event of war. He forecasts that provisions for compulsory physical training would be included. Mr \V.. J. Broadfoot favoured the volunteer system. He added that in the event of war the Defence Act should enable, by a, stroke qf a pen, the conscription not only of every man and woman but of our resources as well.

That the power of conscription wealth existed to-day, was the view expressed by Mr R. A. Wright, who said that tin* Government- could achieve this by means of taxation.

Mr Wright added that he believed some hope for peac-e existed in the development of devices so deadly that the nations would be afraid to go to •war. The Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister of Defence) stated that the naval defence estimates were £40,000 higher than last year. The explanation of this was that we had not. up to the present, carried out our undertaking arranged at the Imperial Conference. It had hast been agreed that we should maintain in these water® three cruisers at I an nverag-o cost* of .£170,000 por year. Subsequently it had been arranged that we should maintain only two cruisers ami contribute £125,000 to the Singapore Base and to provide repair docks at Devonport. The maintenance of H.M.S. Dunedin had actually exceeded the average and had cost £210,000 per year and H.M.S. Diomede had cost £IBO.OOO. What wo had not done was to improve Calliope dock at Auckland, so that it would be capable of dealing with first-class cruisers. This task was now being undertaken. The increase m naval expenditure would he only temporary. The British Government, realising the state of Hew Zealand’s financial position, had met this country so fairly in regard to repairs that this increase would not he permanent. Mr Wilford agreed that the whole defence system in this country, .ip common with other countries, required remodelling. but this could not he achieved m the twinkling of an eye. In regard to compulsory training, he pointed out that while there were volunteer system in Britain and Canada, these countries had standing armies, whereas New Zealand had not.