DEFENCE FORCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 10

DEFENCE FORCES

SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT DELAY IN DELIVERY OVER £1,000,000 IN ORDERS (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Orders for defence material aggregating more than £1,000,000 placed by the Government in the last three years are unfulfilled. The Government's efforts to bring the stocks of defence requirements up to a new level were briefly explained to-day by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) when he discussed the measures with the Canterbury Territorial Association. "These are not orders recently placed," the Minister said. " Some were placed nearly three years ago. The hold-up in delivery is undoubtedly due to the demands of Great Britain herself, but it is hoped, as a result of the holding of the Pacific Defence Conference in Wellington in April, that supplies will be made more readily available to this country."

Under the programme previously adopted by the Government for the defence of the Dominion, orders were placed in Great Britain and Australia, and £440,000 worth had not yet been supplied. With the adoption last year of a new programme, a further order, valued at £600,000, had been given to Great Britain, making a total value on order of more than £1,000,000. When visiting Burnham to-day, the Minister saw clearing operations being carried out on the site of a new ordnance store, the central depot for the South Island.

HOME DEFENCE ARMY EXPERT'S REPORT AWAITED OFFICIAL STATEMENT TO FOLLOW (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. A report on the personnel, equipment and training of a land force for the defence of New Zealand by Major-general P. J. Mackesey, C. 8., D. 5.0., M.C., of the British General Staff, is expected to be made to the Government next week. An early pronouncement by the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) on the Government's defence policy will follow. This information was given to the Press to-day by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) in an interview at Burnham after he had inspected the Third Composite Infantry Battalion in camp and on parade. Many Offers Received The Minister was asked if any changes in the territorial system and methods of training were proposed. "We are waiting for Majorgeneral Mackesey's report," Mr Jones said. " His report cannot be anticipated,-and, in fact, we do not know what it will contain. The Defence Conference will also be helnful in assisting us to come to a decision. The Government, however, is satisfied that it was a good move to obtain the consent of the War Office to Major-general Mackesey making a full investigation and preparing a report on the army in New Zealand while he was visiting this country. "Any amount of offers from individuals and org: nisations to give their services in a defence force have been received," Mr Jones said, "but I think we will be able to deal with them after Major-general Mackesey's report is to hand and the Prime Minister makes his public statement of the Government's decisions as to the land force needed for the country." Satisfied With Results Complete satisfaction with the results of the territorial system using a small force was expressed by Mr Jones. Officers at Burnham that day and throughout the Dominion had told him that the training the men was receiving was better than any training of the past. With the schools of instruction, camps, and week-end training, excellent results had been obtained and the standard and spirit of the men were exceptionally good. The response to the call for territorials to attend camps was also most gratifying, the Minister added. The aim was to encourage recruits to attend the special course, the benefits of which were clearly reflected in the later work of the men. WIGRAM EXPANSION INSPECTION BY MINISTER LARGE BUILDING PROGRAMME (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Most of the buildings in the extension programme involving £ 184,300 at Wigram aerodrome have been completed and the immense development of the aerodrome wos commented on by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) to-day. when he inspected the Royal New Zealand Air Force Training School. Entire satisfaction with the progress of the work and the record of the school was expressed by the Minister. "Although a large number of the buildines are still in the course of construction, the station is fully manned, and is carrying out intensive flying training to a syllabus of instruction similar to that in the Royal Air Force," said Mr Jones in an interview following his inspection on which he was accomnanied by Wing-commander R. S. Hodson and Flight-lieutenant R. Anderson, adjutant. " The barracks and messes, which in 1937 had accommodation for 90 ainnen and 24 officers, will now accommodate 280 airmen and 40 officers. In addition, buildings capable of accommodating a further 130 airmen and 50 officers are nearing completion. It is expected that the new officers' mess, which is costing approximately £32,000, will be comrjleted by August of this year." Self-contained Settlement A small village has grown up on the land near the main road, the homes being bright in appearance and neat in design. The Minister

was informed by officers that the homes were excellent in every way. Quarters for eight married officers and 23 married non-commissioned officers and airmen had been completed and all are in occupation. The extension of the technical buildings, said the Minister, embraced a new headciuarters block, main store and guard house, which are completed, and a further two concrete hangars, a large wooden hangar and an additional store, which are in process of construction. All these buildings were inspected by Mr Jones, who also visited the station hospital, which is in the finishing stages. Bright and airy and modern in design, the hospital is on an open space between the main road and the barracks overlooking the recreation grounds. Near the hospital, lawn tennis courts are being laid down. Work at Blenheim " The building programme for the regular squadron at Blenheim is proceeding most satisfactorily," said the Minister. " The estimated cost of these buildings is £ 184,000 and contracts have already been let and building begun for three large timber hangars, each measuring 265 feet by HO feet, and a series of barrack blocks for airmen. This station is entirely of wooden construction, the types of buildings developed being similar to those which would be used in mobilisation on the expansion of the Air Force." The expectation of the Minister is that the Blenheim station will be ready for occupation by October. Preparation of the flying field had been completed for this season, he said, and grass had been sown. Contracts for the remaining buildings would be let in the near future.