PEACE AND ECONOMY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16735, 17 May 1922, Page 7

PEACE AND ECONOMY.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE

RETRENCHMENT SCHEME. By Telegraph —Press Association Copyrigii Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 17, 8.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, A fay 17. The official military view of the de fence retrenchment scheme is that the Government has framed its proposals wisely, and that the promise of peace in the Pacific has ‘materially reduced the obligations of the Commonwealth i Government to build up (in expensive 1 military organisation. The ministry ! has l>een guided by two facts. The first is the prospect of at least ton years’ peace in the Pacific, and the second is ; the imperative demand for economy, i The Ministry has cut its coat according j to its cloth, and has decided to abandon ; all appearances which might, show an offensive instead of a defensive attitude.

Mr Hughes, in a recent speech on thdefence policy of the Government, shu that, provision had been made for :

total reduction of £1.750.000 below' thi estimated expenditure of 1921. A burn her of vessels in the Australian fleoand all of the submarine flotilla wouk bo placed on the reserve. Tt was pro posed to abolish junior cadet training Everything would be reduced practically 25 per cent of the war strength The Air Service would lie reduced fron I four squadrons to one.