NEW DEFENCE FORCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18359, 19 June 1931, Page 9

NEW DEFENCE FORCE.

SUCCESS FORECAST. ORGANISATION PROCEEDING. An outline of the new territorial scheme was given by Colonel J. E. Duigan, Cammandant of the Northern Command, in an address at the Hamilton Luncheon Club yesterday. Referring briefly to the European situation, Colonel' Duigan said the relations among the nations were considerably strained and tangled. As a whole the nations had not curtailed their military expenditure in any way. Since 1924 Great Britain had decreased her defence estimates by 10 per ( cent, and Japan by 1.0 per cent, but all other powers had increased estimates. France had increased 04 per cent; Italy, 30 per c-enl: Russia, 184 per cent, ami United Stales, 28 per cent. People were being lulled into a stale of coma by Ihe propaganda of 111 e League of Nations, but they forgot that Article. 8 of ihe Covenant staled that armaments should be reduced only to Ihe extent compatible witli national safely. lie pointed out that the object of 1 He New Zealand Territorial Army was firstly to defend the country in Hie event of invasion and secondly, to aid the Empire in ease of a national i emergency. It was generally under- I stood that if any unit of the Empire was at war Hie whole Empire was at war. The speaker detailed Ihe divisional organisation and iliuslrated Ids remarks by diagram. The total

strength at present amounted to about GOO officers and 2000 N.C.O.’s. It was hoped that under the new scheme a force of 9300 men and GOO officers would be gathered. There were 300 officers serving In the various secondary schools in which there were also 10,000 senor cadets in training with the latest rilles, artillery, signalling equipment and machine guns. Work Recognised. Colonel Duigan said the Defence Department fully recognised, the great work which 'had been accomplished by the present officers and N.C.O.'s. Ho believed the public should realise these services more than they did. Personally, lie thought the new force would be a great success. The type of lad wanted was one with character and power of leadership. Patriotism in this country, lie thought, was still latent. It was necessary that trainees should give a certain number of voluntary parades to ensure real efficiency. The now . force would be equipped with the latest rides, machine-guns and signalling equipment. in 12 months lie believed the country would be astonished at Lhc results achieved. lie appealed for the'interest and support of citizens for the. local units—the Waikato .Mounted Hides and the Waikato InfanLry Regiment. Very few citizens at present were taking iric ini,crest they should in the territorial system. The in fan fry battalions were quito as technical as any other branch of the force. In Hamilton only 120 volunteers wore required and lie understood recruiting was proceeding satisfactorily. Colonel Duigan concluded by appealing lo all employers lo co-operate with Die defence authorities in assis'-l

ing their employees who were members of the units. In returning thanks Lo the speaker, Mr J. F. Strang, the chairman, did not consider the views recently expressed by Dr. Gibb, of Wellington, and those of Colonel Duigan were widely inconsistent. There was nothing in the doctrine of tho League of Nations inconsistent wlt'h self defence.