NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23327, 20 October 1937, Page 12

NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM

LEGISLATION TO BE ENACTED CONTROL OF THE SERVICES (Fbom Oub Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 19. Three Bills providing for the 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 (Mr F. Jones). The purpose of these measures will be very largely to give effect to the policy of control outlined in a 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 Bills, the Army Board Bill, provided for the setting up of the Army Board The 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 Groupcaptain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane. The third Bill, the Air Department Bill, would authorise the establishment of the Air Department. This department would be charged with the administration of the Air Force, and would also cover civil aviation in New Zealand. "The three boards already constituted—the Naval Board, the Army Board, and the Air Board—will be co- i ordinated in the National Defence Council," Mr Jones added. This will really be an advisory body, comprising the chiefs of the three services and representatives of the Government, and will make recommendations to the Cabinet, which, of course, is the final authority, "I anticipate that the system when it is thus reorganised will operate in an entirely satisfactory manner."