AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19405, 13 August 1926, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. PROGRESS AND EXPENDITURE/ A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Aug. 12. In replying to. criticism of the Defence Estimates in the House of Representatives, the Minister of Defence, Sir Neville Howse, said that in 1925-26 the cost of Australian defence was 27s 2d per head. This was more than the cost in any other Dominion. Although the recent report of the In spector-General on the land forces of the Commonwealth was condemnatory of the Ministry it must not be forgotten that tho Navy and the Air Force were the first lines of defence. In both those branches progress had been made in advance of the programme which was laid down in 1923, for five years. In the course of his annual report the Chief of the General Staff, LieutenantGeneral Sir H. Chauvel, said: "If proper steps are not taken to establish the military forces of the Commonwealth on an adequate footing the power of Australia in a time of crisis will be greatly impaired. With the funds now available it is not possible to place the Australian Army in a state of preparedness." The report concluded by strongly emphasising the fact that a considerable period must elapse before any decision to increase the present degree of preparation could produce. practical results.