APPOINTMENT EXTENDED

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1935, Page 4

APPOINTMENT EXTENDED

DOMINION MILITARY HEAD v SIR WILLIAM SINCLAIR-BURGESS. DEFENCES BEING STRENGTHENED. HELP IN CONCLUSION OF PLANS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Government has decided to extend for two years the appointment of MajorGeneral Sir William Sinclair-Burgess as general officer commanding thq New Zealand military forces. Sir William was selected to fill this office for four years from April 1, 1931, and was due to retire on April 1 this year. When making the announcement the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, spoke highly of the general’s services, emphasising the efforts he had made to build up the territorial force into an efficient military body. Referring to the work of remodelling and strengthening the defences of the country, which had been going on quietly for several months past, Mr. Cobbe said that very shortly now much new plant would have arrived in the Dominion ready for assembling. “Quite apart,” the Minister stated, “from his services in other directions the Government would have been unwise to allow itself to be bereft of the invaluable assistance Sir William can give in bringing to a proper conclusion its defence plans.”