DEFENCE POLICY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 252, 5 August 1937, Page 6

DEFENCE POLICY.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHORTLY. APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS. (Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, August 4. A statement on the Government’s defence policy will be made by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) within the next week or ten days. This announcement was made by Mr Jones at a luncheon given to-day by the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association. “I am sorry I cannot tell you just now what is being done about the land forces,” lie said, “because I am not in a position to release the statement. We realise that we have not had satisfaction in the past with our land forces, and, when I say that, I am casting no reflection on staffs who have been carrying on very well in the lace of difficulties. I hope to make a statement within a week or ten davs about land services in New Zealand, and the Government will hear in mind the necessity for the closest co-operation between the three services. “This Government .is fully alive to its responsibilities Irom the defence point of view.” Mr Jones also made an appeal to employers to show their practical sympathy with work for the defence of New Zealand by placing no obstacle in the way of young men who wanted to go into camp. He suggested that where possible their sympathy should take practical form by allowing their employees full pay while they were in training.