DEFENCE FORCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 17

DEFENCE FORCES

CONTROL OF SERVICES REORGANISATION PLAN THREE BILLS THIS WEEK AIR AND ARMY BOARDS [by TKLKCiRAPH SI'KCIAT, REPORTER] WE LTjI xG TON, 'l'llCKday Three bills# providing for control of the air and land defence forces of the Dominion will be introduced in the House of Representatives this week by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The purpose of these measures will bo to give effect to the policy of control outlined in the statement on the reorganisation of the forces which was issued by the Minister about two months ago. The Minister stated in an interview to-night that the first of the measures, the Army Board Bill, provided for the setting up of the Army Board. Ihe Air Force Bill would give legislative status to the Air Board, which would control the air force and would also provide for the organisation of the air force on the lines recommended to the Government some time ago by Group-Captain the Hon. 11. A. Cochrane.

Tho third bill, the Air Department Bill, would authorise the establishment of an Air Department which would be charged with the administration of tho air force and would also cover civil aviation in New Zealand. "The three boards —the already constituted Naval Board, the Army Board and the Air Board —will be co-ordin-ated in the National Defence Council," Mr. Jones added. "This will really be an advisory board, comprising the chiefs of the three services ancl representatives of the Government, and will make recommendations to the Cabinet, which, of course, is the final authority. 1 anticipate that the system, when it is thus reorganised, Avill operate in an entirely satisfactory manner." PROTECTING INDUSTRIES ACTION TO BE TAKEN MINISTER'S CONTENTIONS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday "The Government intends to give adequate and effective protection to our New Zealand industries," said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, during the debate' on the Financial Statement in the House of Representatives to-night. "However, it is not possible to work a plan out in five minutes." All .sorts of things were being said about the plight of the manufacturing industries of the Dominion, Mr. Sullivan continued, but not all of the industries were affected. Only a few of the manufacturers, in fact, were in fierce competition with overseas suppliers. The majority of the industries of the Dominion were in a healthy condition, as was shown by the current factory statistics. One would think after listening to members of the Opposition and others that all the factories in the Dominion were facing ruin. It was a stupid attitude to take up.