DOMINION’S DEFENCE POLICY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18608, 2 July 1930, Page 8

DOMINION’S DEFENCE POLICY.

ADDRESS BY LIEUTENANTCOLONEL INGLIS. ECONOMIES SUGGESTED. There was a fair attendance of business men in the Stafford Tea Rooms last night, when Lieutenant-Colonel L. M. Inglis, M.C., by request, delivered a lengthy address on the defence policy of the Dominion. The chair was occupied by Lieutenant-Colonel S. D. Mason, who said that the subject might not be of apparent interest, but underlying It there was something which was of interest to every member of the community. The object of the meeting was to place before the public the defence system, its working, and also the views of Territorial officers concerning the way it was being run. The meeting had been prompted by the fact that business men generally did not have much idea of the defence system, and would welcome an explanation. Lieutenant-Colonel Inglis said that since the Government announced on March 28 last that it had cancelled Territorial camps for the remainder of the year, and was contemplating sweeping changes in the system of land defence, there had been a considerable amount of ill-informed discussion of defence matters in the Press. Where the question was one of such vital importance, and one with which the majority of the public concerned themselves little until it was brought forcibly to their notice in times of national danger, it seemed advisable for the few who had kept touch with it to place the important factors on record. The speaker went on to explain that the New Zealand Military Forces at present comprised the Permanent Forces, the Territorial Force, the Senior Cadets, and the Reserve, and he gave the compo ition of these units in detail. He next dealt with .some myths which were widely accepted facts, the most outstanding being that the Territorial Force was useless in the last war. It was often heard that the Territorials were told to forget all they had learned when they went into camp.” The "truth about the Territorial Force in the war was that its existence was the only thing that made possible the rapid mobilisation and despatch of the first Samoan Force and the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force; and, but for the existence of the Territorial force, it would have been impossible for a year, or years, after the outbreak of war to organise, equip and train anything more than forces on a scale similar to that of the contingents dribbled meagrely out to South Africa. This was so. even though the Territorial Force in 1914 was not nearly so efficient as it was today. The speaker dealt with the statement that “it takes only a few weeks to make a first-class fighting man,” quoting an liorities in support of his contention that a fighting force could nrt be created in haste. He went on to say that various opponents of compulsory service had endeavoured to create the impression that the Territorial was driven to serve merely by his fear of the law, and the Prime Minister had stated to a recent deputation from the Defence League that there had been 860 prosecutions under the Defence Act last year, but that did not represent 860 individuals prosecuted. The most telling fact w-as that in the Territorial Force punishments were rarely necessary for any offence, and for serious offences hardly ever. T e keenness and amenability to discipline of the men were delightful. LieutenantOolonel Inglis next stressed the fact that the service of the Territorial officer was gratuitous, and remarked that he did so because uncertainty in the political atmosphere was apt to have a very undesirable reaction on the Government’s professior l military advisers, for it was likely to make them live in the present, so that they come to care much more about the immediate effect than the ultimate result. The necessity for co-ordination of naval, military and air defences was next discussed, the speaker advancing reasons why New Zealand should have an efficient land He submitted that the objective, which had to be kept in view was to provide for the rapid production on the outbreak of war, and the subsequent reinforcement of one complete division, plus a formation of mobile .troops. The most drastic economies should be made in other portions of the military forces before the Territorial Force was prjuned in the slightest degree. Economies were advisand possible, in order (1) to eradicate portions of the defence scheme which did not return value for the money spent on them: and (2) to enable money to be spent in certain essential directions where the land and air forces were not at the present time provided for. The principal economy measures suggested were; (1) Suspension of all grants to rifle clubs; (2) cease senior cadet training (except in the case of secondary schools which desired corps); (3) make certain economies in the Territorial Force; (4) reorganise and make consequential reductions in the Permanent Forces. Having summarised the economies, the speaker went on at length to detail how they could be effected, and then turned his attention to the question of the training of Territorial units. This brought him to the question of a compulsory scheme versus volunteers, a point which was fully debated in later discussion. Mr Inglis said that no volunteer system would create an efficient reserve. Close observers w T ere satisfied that most of the best material would never be tapped by a voluntary system, the inevitable obstacle to the efficiency of which was fluctuation in numbers. He said that a certain class of “anti-militarist” talked glibly of the “Prussianism” of a compulsory system, but so long as the Territorial Force was a citizen force, with citizen leaders it could never develop along those lines. The superiority of the compulsory over the voluntary system was that in the former case there was a legal duty which brought a man in to serve and ensured that he remained in to complete his training, while in the latter he served only so long as it pleased him. Concluding his address, LieutenantColonel Inglis said “To keep our New Zealand weapon within our national means, and at the same time to ensure that it is an effective weapon, the requirements are; (1) A business overhaul of our forces by a competent body with all the relevant data before it; (2) the preservation of the right of the State to call up the requisite number of able bodied men for training in peace and for service within the Dominion in war; (3) the extension of that right to call up men for service out of the Dominion in war.”

The chairman said that the opinions expressed by Lieutenant-Colonel Inglis had been endorsed by practically every Territorial officer throughout New Zealand.

Mr G. W. Morrison said that a good deal of what had been said was correct, but he was of opinion that compulsory military training in the Dominiou should be discontinued. It was unpopular among the young men, and that being so. they did not take the same interest in it. He agreed that some form of military training was essential, but was of opinion that a volunteer force as efficient as the pre-

sent force could be obtained. Discipline to his mind, should start in the schools, for if a man did not acquire it in his young days, then he would never be disciplined. The Territorial Force in England at the outbreak of war was purely voluntary, and a more efficient force could not have been obtained anywhere, with the means at their disposal. He was satisfied that a volunteer system was the best thing for this country. Now that they were seeking peace, he contended that compulsory training shou 11 be abolished, as it had been in othc- parts of the Empire. If another r came, he was satisfied there wc be sufficient volunteers to send aws;, an expeditionary force. What was essentia! to the country was a few aeroplanes and submarines. Captain Sheldon said that the great difficulty in the volunteer days was recruiting To his mmd. the present scheme filled the bill to-day. Mr A. D. Boyle said he v/as certain the volunteer system would not work, because they would never be able to induce the employers to let the boys off to go to camp. He said that but for the compulsory system, it would not be possible to carry on the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Mr C. W. Wood said he was not a military man, but was considering the position from the point of view of national economy. It appeared to him that the promoters of the meeting had been prompted by something which had been going on in other quarters. He took it that there must be some move which did not suit or please them. Possibly there was a chance of some highly-paid men losing their positions. He was of opinion, however. that something should be done to maintain a force, but what it should be he did not know. There should be something more than a mere skeleton organisation. The money being paid out was beyond the capacity of the country, and it was pleasing to see that some interest was being taken in the matter.

The chairman said that the object of the meeting was to let the public know what the system was. There was no scheme of any sort at the back of their minds.

Mr Wood said that employers did object to having their industries interrupted. They objected to boys being taken away to camps. If some scheme could be devised which would not interfere with work, business men world probably support it. Employers were bound to pay employees wages while they were in camp, and they also received 4/6 per day from the Government. Employees of the Government, however, did not receive wages while in camp. In reply to Mr Wood as to what the administrative cost of the present scheme was. Mr Inglis said he could not say off-hand, but the economy suggested if given effect to, would reduce it to about one third. Mr Wood; “The old women want clearing out.”

Mr Inglis; “As an officer of the Reserve, I can hardly agree.” Mr E. D. Mcßae said that to his mind, the volunteer system would be time wasted for all practical purposes. Mr A. N. Oakey said he was really present representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and it was the opinion of most returned men that they should keep watch and see that an adequate defence force was maintained in New Zealand. It might be that the present force would have to be modified, but an adequate force would have to be maintained. To his mind, the volunteer system was not comparable to'that now in vogue.

After further brief discussion, Mr Wood moved, and Mr W. H. Foden seconded; “That in the opinion of this meeting, the Government, before making any change in the present defence system, should consider the setting up of a competent commission with the object of overhauling the country’s defence forces, with a view to economy and effliency.”

Copies of the motion, which was carried unanimously, are to be sent to the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and the three local Members of Parliament.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Inglis for his address, and to Mr Mason for presiding.