OUR LAND FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1939, Page 5

OUR LAND FORCES

GENERAL MACKESY’S REPORT MANY RECOMMENDATIONS. OUTLINED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Recommendations made in the report on New Zealand’s land forces submitted to the Government by MajorGeneral P. J. Mackesy, one of the United Kingdom delegates to the recent Pacific Defence Conference, were outlined by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, when speaking, in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Jones also explained what action the Government had taken or proposed to take in respect of the various recommendations. "One of the first things he suggested was the enlargement of the regular forces and that means a very heavy cost," said the Minister, who explained that the Government was expanding the force, because with a larger territorial army more instructors were needed.

General Mackesy also recommended that all potential officers should be trained at Duntroon, Australia, Mr Jones continued. He was impressed with the good training received by New Zealand cadets at Duntroon, but it had been suggested that the New Zealanders did not measure up educationally with the Australians. The general also said that 25 per cent of the New Zealand officers had risen from the ranks, and therefore he suggested that the most suitable ones should be sent to Duntroon for a short course of six weeks' training. The Minister added that the Government had already taken steps to send some, and said it would be interesting to see what benefit they received. Improved conditions of promotion and the bringing of the rates of pay into line with those ruling for the Royal New Zealand Air Force were also advocated in the report. The Minister said that the Treasury had been asked to see that the army did not suffer, but it was always necessary to maintain the balance between the salaries of the armed services and other branches of the civil service.

Other recommendations by General Mackesy related to an earlier retiring age for officers, the appointment of liaison officers in the United Kingdom and Australia, the building up of the prestige of the Territorials, reorganisation of the mounted rifles, the,raising of additional engineer battalions and others.

Among the other suggestions approved were the extension of the special reserve scheme to other arms besides the coast defence units and allowing special reservists to transfer to other units.

Assistance for men in the regular force in obtaining higher education was also favoured by General Mackesy. Mr Jones continued. Provision had been made for assistance in studying at technical colleges. The general also advocated sending regular officers abroad, including young officers for regimental duty, and-the Minister said that Cabinet had agreed to extend the scheme, some of the officers being on exchange. An additional amount was being provided in this direction this year.