THE ARMY BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22877, 4 November 1937, Page 13

THE ARMY BOARD

PPOI'OSED PERSONNEL NO SEAT FOR TERRITORIAL OPPOSITION REQUEST FAILS [BV TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLIXGTOX, Wed nesday Strong representations that a senior officer of the territorial forces should he given a seat on the Army Hoard were made by members of the Opposi-

tion during the committee discussion on the Army Board Mill in the House of Representatives to-day. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition —Kaipara) said the request for a territorial officer to be included as a member of the board was supported by a great majority of the persons interested in defence in New Zealand. "When it came to the real thing it was the territorials the country must depend on, but they had felt tremendously out of it for years. They should be taken into tho counsels of the Minister and the best way of doing that would bo to include a. senior oflicer of the territorial forces as a member of tho Army Board. The Minister's Stand "I believe the territorial and the' regular forces are working very well together," replied the Minister of Defences the Hon. F. Jones, "and as a considerable number of our leading staff officers formerly served in the territorial forces, I think they should know the viewpoint of the territorials. I cannot accept the suggestion that nil extra seat should bo provided on the board, hut I do agree that a great deal will be gained by close co-opera-tion between the territorial and regular officers." No request had been received from the territorial officers themselves for representation on the board, the Minister added, but he would be glad to receive their advice and assistance at any time. He felt it would be possible to serve their interests adequately in that way. "This board will be presided over by a civil Minister and will have a civil Army secretary," said Mr. J. Hargest (Opposition —Awarua). "Two or three senior territorial officers have come to me and suggested that representation on the board would enable them to make themselves heard, as they feel that they have something to contribute. I also think that the officers who are to be on the board should be named by rank." An Amendment Defeated Mr. Coates moved an amendment designed to increase the membership of the board from three to four, the additional member to be a senior member of the territorial forces. He suggested that the Minister would "put a feather in his cap" if he agreed to the change, which was designed solely to secure the increased status which the territorial forces deserved. At present unless one happened to have a "red tab" and be on the permanent staff one could get no status. Mr. Hargest and the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, supported the amendment, The Opposition called for a division and the amendment was defeated by 43 votes to 20, the voting being on strict party lines. The bill was then put through its remaining stages and passed without amendment. AIR DEFENCE FUTURE OF HOBSONVILLE NOT BASE FOR PROVINCE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLIXGTOX, Wednesday In moving the committal of the Air Force Bill in the Legislative Council to-day the Leader of the Council, the Hon. M. Fagan, referred to the comparatively slow growth of aviation in New Zealand before 1935 when compared with other parts of the world. There were always differences of opinion regarding defence, but his opinion was that all services should be developed together, because each branch would have advantages in certain circumstances.

The Hon. F. Waito (Otago) said that if New Zealand was to spend money on defence it should be spent in tho right way and lie was pleased to support the bill'.

The Hon. W. Perry (Wellington) said In; knew the Government had the approval of the country in the delinite step taken in tlic defence of the country and the defence measures under consideration would also enable the country to play its part in the defence of the Knipirc. The Hon. J. Alexander (Auckland) said the bill.s before the Council should be welcomed by all because thev provided for a defence force in addition to the existing forces. Jn his opinion one good defence force was worth more than any League.Replying to the debate Mr. said that meteorological research was being intensified in New Zealand and ncu - equipment was being provided. He announced that the defence air base 111 the Auckland Province would not be nt Hobsonville. As far as »civil aviation was concerned, negotiations regarding the Ta,sman service had been proceeding more rapidly during the last two The'ait I'orce Bill and the Air Department Bill were put through the remaining stages and passed. The Army Board Bill was read a fust time and a second time pro forma and was referred to the Statutes Ilevision Committee.