SKELETON DEFENCE FORCE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 31 July 1930, Page 6

SKELETON DEFENCE FORCE

proposals; reviewed. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WHLLINC(TON, July 130. Representative territorial officers conferred with the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. G. Clobbe) with the object oi considering recommendations made by the General Officer Commanding New Zealand Forces (Major-General Young) for the maintenance of a skeleton defence force in place of the present system.

The. Minister stated subsequently that the proposals submitted were thoroughly considered and that the officers had assured him of their cooperation in the scheme drawn up by the Government. It is stated that the text of the motions passed at the conference is: • “This meeting approves of the scheme now submitted providing the same is not extended beyond May .'ll. 1031. and providing also that the compulsory element be not dispensed with even temporarily. ‘•Tlie meeting desires to urge the advisability of setting up as early as possible a Royal Commission to report on the whole question of defence.'’

The first and second motions were carried unanimously. There was one dissentient as regards a third resolution. Copies of the resolutions will he forwarded to till territorial units in the Dominion. NAVY LEAGUE’S RESOLUTION. DUNEDIN, July 30. The following remit was carried at the* Navy League conference : “That the conference views with alarm the reduction in the defence vote and reaffirms its belief in the principle that the Dominion should contribute its full share towards the cost of Imperial defence.”