"Army—All Officers; Navy—All Admirals"

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1948, Page 6

"Army—All Officers; Navy—All Admirals"

New Zealand 's Army is becoming like tlie ^ Brazilian Army — all officers and 110 men. The Navy- is getting. like the'Hungarian Navy — all admirals and no sliips. In tliese words, Mr. Fortune (Nat.j Eden) in tlie House of Bepresentatives accused tlie Government of failing to produce an adequate defence policy. Lt was only by dealing with men tliat officers could be equipped for leaderslup, he said. To -the mau in the street the naval efifort looked pretty thin, he coiitinued The aim was 2o00 men by 1950, but what was t6 liappen in tlie meantime'i New Zealand, which boasted of its desire to help tlie Motlier Countrv, shoulci take its own sliare of the naval burden. What could oue squadron of fightei aircraft inean against any foe that de cided to attack this country? lie con tinued. It was witli no disrespect tc tlie commanders of the Air Force, but rather because' of tlie Government 't policy, that he believed there was not oue efficieut air squadron of any kinc

F — I ' - in New Zealand at present. ; The aero clubs, which had eontributea • mueh to the success of New Zealand 's pilots overseas, were today faeing I bankritptcy, said Mr. Fortune; The . Government could make 110 better contribution to the Air Force than to see1 f that the promises made to the aero • clubs were hououred. I The arch-enemy • today was Russia, . wliich maintained divisions totalling ■ millions of men fully equipped. "We cannot depend on swift help ■ from our Anierieari allies, " he said. ) "Tt is essential tliat we train a small, : efficient force on Which we can rely. 5 I eonteml that on a compulsofy na- ; tional basis we would have a body of l men fit for the job. ' '