Mr Savage to Call For 50,000 Men

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 96, 26 April 1939, Page 5

Mr Savage to Call For 50,000 Men

Nucleus of Still Greater Defence Force

MUNITIONS INDUSTRY HINTED Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. “My aim is a home defence force of at least 50,000 men, independent of overseas sources for axms, ammunition and other essentials,” said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in announcing a general outline of the scheme for strengthening the land defence forces of New Zealand to meet an emergency. 4 ‘ I think tnat if I were to call the result would be that 50,000 men would come forward,” Mr. Savage continued. “I do not think we would have any difficulty in getting them. I hope to be able to make that call in the near future. Meanwhile I am asking the general Officer Commanding the New Zealand military forces, Major-General J. E. Duigan, how he is going to handle the men when they enrol.

“If we had 30,000 men under arms a certain number of others would be providing necessary auxiliary services,” he said, in sketching the broad scheme envisaged. “Frankly, I think that 50,000 men would not look at the job and we would not stop at that. 1 do not think I could stop our men from enrolling if a crisis came. If you gave mo 100,000 New Zealanders prepared to stand to thoir responsibilities in a crisis they would take a lot of shifting.” When asked if his statements could be accepted as an indication that the manufacture of small arms and aeroplanes would be undertaken iu New Zealand and the munition industry extended, Mr. Savage said that he was not prepared to make a definite announcement on those points. The matters were, however, under review. “Those are among the things under review at present,” Mr. Savago continued. “It is impossible for me to say what the prospects are at present, but our job is to provide not only tho mon but also tho material to light with. Unless we can supply tho arms and other essentials we cannot do much fighting, so we will have to look at that side of it as well. “We are not sleeping. We have mado groator progress in the defence of New Zealand than any other Government. It is not sufficient, however, to say that wo have to bo able to have New Zealand iu a position to meet any sort of emergency and no one cun say how soon a military emergency can take place. Wo have to bo prepared to meet a condition of isolation. To bo able to store up things is ono thing, but to be able to provide them for ourselves is another. As far as possible it is our job to see to that.” Mr. Savage described in detail the manner in which the Government was tackling the problem of how best to build up New Zealand’s defences. He said that neither sea nor air forces would be neglected and meanwhile the Government was obtaining all information possible from experts. Group-Cap-tain K. A. Cochrane, until recently chief of the Air Staff, and New Zealand flying officers had done an excellent job iu building an air force up from almost nothing. “We want to have a complete investigation of the position,” he resumed in discussing the strength of the laud forces, which he described as inadequate. “I have discussed thig with Major-General Duigan and 1 have him at tho present time preparing a report. I put it to him like this: ‘What can you do with 50,000 men up to 50 years of age?’ I know thousands of men ot 50 who are pretty tough nuts to crack, and if you ask them to take up arms in New Zealand in defence of everything they hold dear you will find plenty of them ready.

“We are getting all tho information we can,” Mr. Savage said in elaboration of his reference to the Government’s survey of defence needs. “We are covering the whole scheme of things as far as defence is concerned and we want to know that we are on the rirrht track.”

The hope was expressed by Mr. Savage that there would never be conscription in New Zealand. If, however, unforeseen happenings made it necessary the Government would not begin with conscription of men but with the wealth and resources of New Zealand. No one would be allowed to make profits from the Dominion’s necessities. ‘ ‘ There is no need for panic. Wo are just preparing for the worst, and if it does come we will have lost nothing by preparing,” said the Prime Minister. In expressing his satisfaction with the Pacific defence conference now in progress in Wellington, Mr. Savage said it had come completely up to his expectations. The conference had done invaluable work in showing how the defence system of New Zealand should be developed to meet the country’s growing needs. “I have to return to Wellington sooner than I had planned to see the conference delegates before they leave and see their report,” Mr. Savage said. “I will be in Wellington on Wednesday morning and we will see what the recommendations are and build on them as far as it is possible. Wo are not guessing. We are getting information from those who should know wlfat they aro talking about.”

The importance of the conference to New Zealand was emphasised by Mr. Savage, who said tho expansion of the Dominion’s defence would be based largely upon tho decisions made at the conference. In addition, the Government had instructed its own senior

officers to report on tho various aspects of defence in New Zealand.

“I can easily visualise an emergency in New Zealand without introducing war when it would be necessary for men and women to flock to the help of those in need,” he continued. “Napier furnished one instance and an organisation on general aud rational lines to meet any emergency, military if necessary, is long overdue. “What we want to se is a citizeu army with every man at hi* job,” he said, “and if the call comes, with every man knowing what he has to do when he comes from farm or shop. Certain men in all fines will stay where they are while tffeir brothers are under arms. Our job is to see that the organisation is there, arranged in peace time. Mr. Savage made it clear that he did not intend to discuss details of the military tactics to be employed in an emergency. He said his task was to have some vision of principles and go to the experts for details.