N.Z. DEFENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 222, 6 September 1929, Page 5

N.Z. DEFENCE

QUESTION OF EXEMPTIONS LIVELY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM: PROS AND CONS. [Per Press Association.] Parlt. Buildings, Sept. 6. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. Mr. I’. Fraser (Lab., Wellington East) gave notice of his 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 (Lab., Manukau) said 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. He also submitted that instead of raising the standard of fitness to keep down the number of trainees, it would be preferable to take in those young men who were not so fit, but who 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, R. Jenkins (United, Parnell) urged that the ammunition store at Devonport should be transferred to one of the islands in the vicinity or to some other place where it would not be a potential danger to the populace. WAR POSSIBILITIES. Mr. F. Waite (Ref., Clutha) stated that it was quite wrong to assume that the Great War had ended wars —there had been more strife in the ten years following, that event than in the ten years preceding it. With such facts as naval competition, the submarine race, uneasiness in the Balkans, the present relationship between Germany and France and developments in the air and chemical methods of warfare staring us in the face, we had to be prepared. He asked the Minister of Defence, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, whether he had worked out a scheme for tho conscription of other things besides men in the event of war, and he referred to the French system of conscripting the whole nation He advocated the payment to all people serving at home the same rates as those that the "ordinary soldier in the field received. This, he added, might make war less popular. LABOUR’S VIEW. Mr. H. E. Holland (Lab., Buller) said that the latter portion of Mr. Waite's remarks practically outlined the Labour party’s 1916 manifesto. Ho was glad to observe that there had been one convert in the ranks of the Reform party. Mr. Holland said that world peace was largely dependent on international relationship and arrangement, and he asked the Minister what was his attitude towards New Zealand's signing the optional clause of the statute of the International Court of Justice. PRESENT SYSTEM DEFENDED. Mr. A. Harris (Ref., Waitemata) defended the present defence system and opposed the suggestion to grant exemption from service to any section of the community. He contended that the ultimate result of such a course would be the breakdown of the defence of the country. Colonel T. W. McDonald (United, Wairarapa) asserted that the volunteer system would not in any way reduce the efficiency of the defence forces of the Dominion. He believed that the time had arrived for a complete remodelling of our organisation and that a huge sum of money could be saved without any loss of efficiency. LABOUR’S DEFENCE BILL. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) said that the Labour party intended next session to introduce a Defence Bill of its own and it might almost be emboldened in consequence of Mr. Waite’s remarks to include some provision for the conscription of wealth in the event of war. He forecasted that provisions for compulsory physical training would bo included. VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (United, Waitomo) favoured the volunteer system. He added that in the event of war, a Defence Act should enable, by a stroke of the pen, the conscription not only of every man and woman, but of our resources as well. That the power of conscripting wealth existed to-day was the view expressed by the Hon. R. A. Wright (Ref., Wellington Suburbs), who said that the Government could achieve this by means of taxation Mr. Wright added that he belie | some hope for peace existed in L. development of devices so deadly that the nations would be afraid to go to war. ESTIMATES HIGHER. Tlie Hon. T. M. Wilford 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 first been agreed that we should maintain three cruisers at an average cost of £170.000 a year. Subsequently it had been arranged that we should maintain only two cruisers and contribute £125,000 to the Singapore base and provide repair docks at Devonport. The maintenance of the Dunedin bad actually exceeded the average and had cost £200.000 a year and the Diomede had cost £lBO,OOO. What we had not done was to improve the Calliope dock nt Auckland so that it would he capable of dealing with a first-class cruiser This task was now being undertaken The increase in naval expenditure would bo only temnorary. The British Government, realising the state of New Zealand's finances, had met this country so (Continued on foot of next column)

fairly in regard to repairs that this increase would not be permanent. SYSTEM REQUIRES REMODELLING. Mr. Wilford agreed that the whole of the defence system in this country, in common with those in other countries, required remodelling, but this could not be achieved in the twinkling of an eye. In regard to compulsory training, ho pointed out that while there were volunteer systems in Britain and Canada these countries had standing armies, whereas New Zealand had not.