THE LAND FORCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 10

THE LAND FORCES

GENERAL MACKESY'S REPORT IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS STRENGTHENING OF ALL SERVICES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. The recommendations made in the report submitted to the Government by Major-general P. J. Mackesy, one of the United Kingdom delegates to the Pacific Defence Conference were revealed by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Jones also explained what action the Government had taken or proposed to take in respect of the various recommendations. “One of the first things Majorgeneral Mackesy suggested was an enlargement of the regular forces and that means very neavy cost,” said the Minister. He said that the Government was. expanding the force because with a larger territorial army more instructors were needed. Training at Duntroon General Mackesy also recomir.tnded that all potential officers should be trained at Duntroon, Australia, Mr Jones continued. He was impressed with the good training received by New Zealand cadets at Duntroon, but it had been suggested that New Zealanders did not measure up educationally with the Australians. General Mackesy also said that 25 per cent, of the New Zealand officers had risen from the ranks and therefore he suggested that the most suitable ones should be sent to Duntroon for a short course of six weeks’ training. The Minister added that the Government had already taken steps to send some and said it would be interesting to see what benefit they received. , . , Improved conditions of promotion and the bringing of the rates of pay into line with those ruling for the Royal New Zealand Air Force were also advocated in the report. The Minister said that the Treasury had been asked to see that the army did not suffer, but it was always necessary to maintain a balance between the salaries of the armed services and other branches of the civil service. Earlier Retirement of Officers Earlier retiring, ages for officers were proposed by General Mackesy, Mr Jones said. He suggested that colonels should be retired at 55 years of age, Lieutenant-colonels at SJ, majors at 51, and captains at 48. To put this into effect would mean a revision of the superannuation. The general considered that some New Zealand officers were kept in the force too long. This was a question that would have to be investigated, but he could assure the holders of the ranks mentioned that justice would be done. General Mackesy _ also advocated the appointment of liaison officers in the United Kingdom and Australia. Already the Government had arranged to send such an officer to the United Kingdom, and it was discussing with Australia the question of an exchange of liaison officers. Another recommendation was the commissioning of senior warrant officers as quartermasters, and the Government was already doing so. Strengthening the Forces The building up of the prestige of the territorials and the expansion of the force by 6000 were other recommendations. The Minister mentioned that this had been done and that the establishment had been increased to 16,000 in half the time thought likely. This would mean an additional cost of £150,000. Another propos;al was the raising of the peace establishment of the heavy batteries and fortress battalions to war strength. This was being done at a cost of approximately £25,000 a year. It was also suggested that there should be established district training centres for the handling of recruits on mobilisation, and this too was being arranged. A. reorganisation of the mounted rifles by expansion into two horse regiments and one motorised regiment in each district was also advocated in the general’s report. The Minister said that this would be provided by the expansion of the territorial force already approved. Another proposal was that the Government should expedite the scheme for the breeding of remounts on a subsidised basis. A total of £4OOO had been spent in this direction last year, and similar provision was made this year. In accordance with the general’s recommendations, plans were being prepared for the raising of additional engineer units on mobilisation. In addition, action would be taken in the direction of retiring officers who were not up to standard. Training of Junior Officers The provision of special facilities for training additional junior officers at schools of instruction or in advanced training companies was recommended by the report. Mr Jones said that this question was now receiving consideration, and one suggestion was that smart cadets should go into advanced training companies to provide the officers of the future. The Minister described as largely a matter of organisation (he proposal that territorial officers should be given more responsibility for the administration as well as for the training of their commands. He said that this was being considered. The enforcement of the contract to serve for three years made by territorials on enlistment was also advocated in the report. The general said that public opinion should be fostered to help in this direction, so that a breach of contract would be considered a disgrace. Among other suggestions approved were an extension of the •special reserve scheme to other arms besides the coast defence units and allowing special reservists to transfer to other units. Assistance for men in the regular force in obtaining higher education was also favoured by General Mackesy, Mr Jones said, and provision had been made for assistance in Itudying at technical colleges. The general also advocated sending regular officers abroad, including young officers for regimental duty. The Minister said that the Cabinet had agreed to extend the scheme, some of the officers now being on exchange. An additional amount was being provided in this i direction this year.