CONTROL OF LAND FORCES

Southland Times, Issue 23336, 21 October 1937, Page 6

CONTROL OF LAND FORCES

ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMY BOARD PROVIDED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 20. The establishment of an army board with functions in relation to the land forces of New Zealand similar to those exercised by the Naval Board and the Air Board in those two arms of defence is provided for in the Army Board Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives today by GovernorGeneral’s Message. In an explanatory memorandum to the Bill it is stated that many of the existing provisions of the Defence Act are obsolete, but that a general revision of the law cannot be undertaken until the proposed Army Board has had an opportunity to review the present system and make recommendations for the reorganization of the defence forces having regard to present-day requirements. The Bill itself sets out the following constitution of the Army Board:— The Minister of Defence as president. .. ot more than three officers of the military forces appointed by the Gov-ernor-General and holding office during his pleasure. The army secretary, whose appointment is authorized by the Bill. It is proposed that the Under-Secre-tary for Defence shall be the first army secretary. The board is to be charged with the administration of the army and will have full powers. In many respects it will take over the administrative functions previously exercised by the general officer commanding the military forces. The Bill was read a first time.