REPLY TO LEAGUE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19758, 12 October 1938, Page 5

REPLY TO LEAGUE

CRITICISM OF DEFENCE DOMINION LAND FORCES MINISTER'S ASSURANCE "NO NEED TO WORRY" (Por Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. A statement that although the New Zealand Defence League had criticised what it called the deplorable state of the defence forces of New Zealand, one section of the league had actually passed a resolution congratulating him on his policy with regard to the land forces was made by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in an address last night.

The Minister added that during September 366 recruits had joined the territorial forces.

"The New Zealand Defence League, which claims to be a non-political body, has expressed alarm at what it calls the deplorable state of the land f3rces," Mr. Jones said, "but it is an interesting fact that as recently as August last a meeting of the general committee of the Wellington branch of the Defence League carried this resolution: 'That a letter be sent congratulating the Minister of Defence on liis action in pushing forward the strengthening of the land forces of the Dominion.' The president and secretary of the branch wrote to me conveying that resolution."

The Minister said that the Government was aiming at a peace-time strength of 9000 territorials and the latest return showed that there were 1i66 officers and 7571 other ranks, a total of 8237.

"That shows that we will get the 9000 men we require," Mr. Jones said. "We have about 3000 men posted to the reserve and there are about 5000 members of rifle clubs.

"With the information the Government has it is the best judge of what is required and there is no need to worry about the land force."