MILITARY COLLAPSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20619, 18 July 1930, Page 12

MILITARY COLLAPSE.

SUSPENSION OF TRAINING. CONSTERNATION OF OFFICERS CRITICISM OF THE STAFF. ALTERNATIVES NOT EXAMINED. The suspension of compulsory military training, wit' l 'ho reduction of nil territorial units to small cadres and the eomj>let n disbamlment of all nori school cadet units, came into operation . last Tuesday. Parliament and the country knew nothing nf the change until the following day, when th> Mi:iist?r of Defence made the hare announcement of suspension in reply to a question. Even then he gave no details of a change actually in motion. It is not surprising, therefore, to learn that territorial officers were confounded at. the precipitate manner the force had Leon wiped out of existence hy regulation. Parliament lias had no voice in the change. It lias not had an opportunity to discuss alternatives or the effect of the change upon New Zealand's Imperial responsibilities. System's Coming ol Age. This year the territorial system came ! rf nee—it began in 1909. The occasion has been celebrated by destroying it. This is done in the name of economy, but only bv the staff which is to be retained, and by a few conferences between the staff and senior territorial officers, lias the possibility of effecting economy been explored. It may now bo stated that the bulk of the senior officers summoned to the conferences opposed the system adopted. Their opinions have been completely ignored. Indeed, at. the conferences such a wholesalo change was not indicated. Cadres of twice the strength now fixed were then regarded as the minimum. Many people, however, are not prepared to accept tho ireed of economy as tho only reason for the destruction of tho land forces of this country. Tho abolition of compulsory military training is one of tho aims of the Labour Party. The Government continues to function at the pleasure of that party and obviously it will bp a fine feather in tho political cap of that party to be able to tell its supporters that it lias achieved its object without reaching tho Treasury benches. Stafl Not Supported. The Government may shelter behind the excuse that this scheme was recommended hy its expert miltary advisers, but the staff lias not tho support of the great majority of the senior territorial officers, all men with distinguished war service, who have continued to give disinterested and gratuitous service to their country. "We anticipated financial adjustments," said a territorial officer yesterday. " We realised that savings could be effected, but to suggest that this scheme is workable or could give any sort of value for the money allotted to it is simply farcical. Training will simply descend to the level of classes of instruction." The first impulse of a number of prominent officers was to hand in their resignations, in view of the fact that they will be reduced to the indiginity of "standing around like a lot of spare parts," as one of them put it, but the probabilities are that most of them will hold their hand for a year or so in an endeavour to " save something from the wreck." But .if it is not possible within that time to drive a iittle common sense into the Government, then wholesale resignations ' arc to be expected. .Already a movement is on foot to organise territorial opinion, the first suggestions having come from tho South Island. Where Economy is Possible. " I am certain," said an officer, " that substantial economies could be effected without reducing the force to a nucleus of theoretical value. Establishments could b° reduced without wiping out the unit and all that is embraced by esprit de corps. The cadets could bo abolished so that youths would start their training at, 18 years. The New Zealand Staff Corps and the New Zealand Permanent Staff could be reduced without destroying organisation or greatly impairing its instructional capacity. Command and district staffs could be reorganised and reduced. " Is it necessary, for instance, to carry 10 large a number of junior staff oliicers who act as adjutants of regiments? I say nothing against the capacity of such officers, but when the whole defence system of the country is in jeopardy one is bound to look for sources of saving, even though I lie individual may suffer. The war proved the capacity of civilian sold'ers to perform staff duties of the kind which do not require the specialised study of the higher branches and there is no reason therefore why such positions as. those of regimental adjutants could not tie filled by bright territorial officers who undertake to take a course of study without giving their whole time to the work." Politics and Ignorance. i In the eour.se of inquiry one discerned n strong belief that the territorial system had been sacrificed to political expediency, I and an equally strong belief that the poli- I tieiari had too little knowledge of military ! 1 • matters to realise the effect of his actions. " If the object is economy," said a rn.ui of long evperienco. " surely the corn- j mon sense method would have been to have the matter debated on the floor of the House, so that all possibilities and all alternative:-: could have hern examined. Why should not a committee have been ff'. tip to report upon means of reducing expenditure? If, on the other hand, the aim is disarmament, then it would have iceri doubly important, to have obtained I'-rhameiilary :.and ion. While the Government is obviously seared of Labour, T do not. think (hat it- intentions go further than to r-fiei-L economy and for that "ii I have, hopes that some 1 l'/Tja! kin'l of compromise w i|] be hwe ve; i t! ,<• slatl has Made art ab;ed. .-.uiiendei- <.f jfs national J'". [/Onoil. I it--, in a»I y i • i this grotesque f,efierne ( the member-, of the Cabinet, will eventually learn v.hat will be the consequences of their decision." '