DOMINION'S DEFENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3624, 28 August 1923, Page 58

DOMINION'S DEFENCE.

UNSATISFACTORY POSITION. WELLINGTON, August 16. The Defence report was presented to Parliament to-day. the report states that the permanent farces, though much reduced in number, have worked loyally and without regard to hours in endeavouring to carry out tho provisions of the Act. Almost all, but particularly those engaged on instructional duties, are overworked and have to turn out on a large proportion of holidays and evenings, so much so that no one, unless keen on the worn, would remain for long under the present conditions. The permanent officers now number 100 officers and 401 oilier ranks. The amount expo ded on the force during the year was £285,113. New Zealand is now going through tho usual after-war stage, when the public, forgetting that the lack of preparation has already proved very cosily, is anxious to reduce the burdens left by the war by cutting down the national insurance. ine report states that though economy is necessary, savings at tho expense of efficiency do not constitute efficiency, but the reverse. New Zealand is not able to stand alone, and Great Britain, with her crushing war burden, cannot be expected to continue to provide almost the whole of the defence of trie Empire. It is evident, says the pammandant, that all parts of the Empire' must stand together Iherelore the problem of the defence of nnv dominion r ot be sep-’r-teP f.-mi fhat of the Empire. It is suggested that the liability oi each fclate oe clearly defined.