NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19270, 31 May 1934, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE

APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS. :: ’ \ RELEASE MEN FOR CAMPS. f (By Telegrapu. —Press Association.) ■ WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Speaking at the presentation of ' trophies to local battery companies, ;■ Sir William Sinclair Burgess said he realised the difficulties under which some annual camps had been carried on owing to the absence of many who • were needed there. He felt it his' duty to make a special appeal to those | Who had soldiers in their employ to liberate them for one week each, year to attend the annual camps. lie also asked that employers should ; encourage men to join up. Sometimes • he was asked why New Zealand did not mechanise her artillery, and what was the good of being out of date. He had two answers to those questions. The first was that it would not be right, in view of the economic conditions. The second was that there were many parts of New Zealand where it would not be practicable to use. tractors for hauling guns. There Were many places where a horse could 'go but where a tractor, could not.

. CO-OPERATION WITH AUSTRALIA. SIMILARITY OF POLICIES. (By Telegraph.—l’rcss. Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Minister of Defence, lion. J. G. Cobbe, stated to-day 'that the Commonwealth Government and the Government o.f New Zealand were working in close co-operation on the question of naval, military and air defence. The belief is held that closer cooperation between the two countries i would strengthen the position of both, especially in view of the similarity of their policies. Mr Cobbe said . New Zealand shells were being re-conditioned by arrangement with the Australian Government, which was also supplying certain military equipment. This arrangement was proving very satisfactory from New Zealand’s point of view.