DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

Timaru Herald, Issue 170307, 30 August 1920, Page 5

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

NEEDS FORCES TO SUPPORT IT

Some reference was made to the League of Nations in the course of the discussion on the Defence Department's estimates (states our Parliamentary Correspondent). The autinulitarist element in the House suggested that tile existence of the League made large armed forces unnecessary. Jbe Minister for Defence said that the League of Nations had not abolished war or removed the need for militarj training. It was not yet a body of assured status, and in any case tho decisions of the League could only be enloreed by armies and navies. Tho j members oi the League were expected to maintain armed Jo roes which, wore to bo used as required to uphold tho rulings oi the League. THE TRAINING SYSTEM. Referring again to tho training svsem the ]\unjster said it was proposed that, alter the first period of from a lortnight to six weeks in camp, the men ol territorial age should be trained in. camp for eleven days in each ycai. The details of the scheme had not yet been settled finally. UNREASONABLE JEERS. Some members had spoken of "fold lace" and "brass hats." The MinSter saicl that jeers of this kind against the senior officers of the Defence Staff were not- reasonable. Officers did not wear gold lace in these days, and the ' so-called "brass hats" were the men who had led tire Zealand troops to victory in tho great war. People who were -proud of the deeds of New Zealand's Expeditionary Force could . not overlook the achievements of the * r ; nio '.\ officers who had led that force, ino Defence staff to-day consisted almost entirely of officers who had distinguished themselves in tho field. MILITARY DISTRICTS.

Mr Sidey (Dnncdin South) referred to the report that the Military Districts were going to be re-arranged, i f° r m one district and tho Jjjorth Island to "contain two districts Tins apparently would mean the abolition of tho Military District. J

Mr Massey: "It w.ould mean smaller expenditure."

.Che Minister for Defence said it wag time the Department, proposed to reduce the number of Military Districts to throe. There was a general demand for the reduction of defence expenditure, and the easiest) way to' do that was to reduce thla num'oer of military districts. He suggested that Mr bidej should appear before the Defence Committee when it was considering the now scheme, and thrash out the matter there. Tho Department had to out tiown its expenditure, and the creation o£ larger military districts wa s one ol its proposals.