NEW DEFENCE PLANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24347, 11 July 1940, Page 6

NEW DEFENCE PLANS

MOUNTED RIFLE UNITS FORMATION APPROVED WAR COUNCIL'S WORK MANY PROPOSALS ADOPTED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter■ WELLINGTON, July 10. The formation of mounted rifle units for work in hilly country in New Zealand was among the recommendations of the War Council approved by the Cabinet, which were reviewed to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser). Mr Fraser said that some of the recommendations were secret, but all had been approved, and action to give effect to them had either been taken or was now being taken. Mr Fraser said it had been decided that the recruitments for the mounted rifle units should be confined to married men between the ages of 25 and 55 years and single men between 45 and 55, preference being given to returned soldiers, former territorials, members of rifle clubs, and deer The Cabinet, Mr Fraser added, had approved a suggestion that wherever possible or desirable New Zealand should supply to the United Kingdom any surplus clothing or other equipment produced in the Dominion for use in equipping United Kingdom forces. Territorial Training It had been agreed, Mr Fraser said, that the fortress battalions should, if possible, do their final month's training in camp and that any deficiency in the numbers required for these battalions should be made up by accepting former territorials. It had also bee?i agreed that, following the completion of the three months' course, should circumstances permit, the future training programme of the Territorial Force should consist of one full day's training ner month. 14 days' camp per annum and the firing of the prescribed musketry course. Another recommendation, that voluntary enlistment for the New "Zealand naval forces should be allowed to continue for normal long service, as well as other requirements which might be approved by the Minister of Defence, was also agreed to. the Prime Minister added. As a .result of another recommendation, the re-registration of all rifles and revolvers is to be immediately undertaken. The .list of topics discussed by the council revealed the thoroughness with which it was attending to its duties, the Prime Minister added. These topics, he said, included the training programme for officers and men of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, the supply of clothing and equipment to military forces, the supply of small arms ammunition as well as" ammunition of other calibres, fuel oil supplies and reserves for the three services, arrangements for the medical treatment and hospital care of sick and injured members of the forces, the utilisation of the canteen funds, the programme of training and incidental matters connected with the home defence forces, the air training programme and- associated matters such as personnel and supply, the framing of the coast-watching organisation and the action taken by the Government regarding vital points, consideration of the units required in mobilisation, the naval programme and incidental matters—supply, personnel, munitions, etc.—the treatment of aliens, the registration of-firearms, rifles and revolvers the progress of the New Zealand mission in Australia and co-operation with Australia. Endorsement of Measures The action taken . by the Government concerning the training programme of the N.Z.E.F. and the home defence forces, the measures taken to provide preventive medical treatment, the supply arrangements for the Air Force, the educational programme in connection with the air training scheme, the steps taken for the protection of vital points, the action taken since the outbreak of war to deal witn enemy aliens, and the measures taken to deal with subversion had all been endorsed, Mr Fraser said. He paid a tribute to the work of the War Council and commended the many helpful suggestions it had made.