COMPULSORY SERVICE NEEDED

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1948, Page 9

COMPULSORY SERVICE NEEDED

Minister's Admission In Hoiise WELLINGTON, July 14. "It has been suggested that we should recruit or call up 8000 men each year from the young men of the 18-year-old group for an initial period of training of 14 weeks in district traihing camps," said the Minister .of • Defenee, Mr. Jones, dnring an important statement on defenee policy, when he spoke in the Address-in-Keply debate in the House of Representatives tonight. Mr. Jones said that while no decision had yet been reached, ft it was his personal opinioii that such a territorial. force could not be reeruited without the intToduction of eompulsory service.

Mr. Jones said his statemeut on defenee ou April 3, liad met with general approval. Altkougli the Leader of the Opposition had ridiculed the proposals contained in it, the only, general critieism had been that it lacked provision for eompulsory military service. Mr. Jones said the best possible advice was obtained in the preparation of plans for the three services. Advice was obtained from the Admiralty, Lord Montgomery and the Chief of the Air Staff of the R.A.F., Lord Tedder. Opposition voice: Did you take the advice? Mr. Jones said he would give the House extracts from the opinions which were ohtained. The Admiralty had agreed with the proposal to purehase six frigates and oue survey vessel, but suggested tliey should be of oue class. The Admiralty report had stated: "The Lords Comuiissioners of the Admiralty lind the proposals which tliey consider will materialy lielp to mahe a balanced fleet as between Australia and New Zealand. most welcome and wisli to assure the New Zealand Government of the, value of these initial plans for contributing to the mutual defenee of the Commonwealth. " Their Lordships had recommended the acquisition of a homogeneous flotilla of escort vessels, suggesting it would be preferable to clioose the Loeh class of frigates which, because of their superior qualities of performance and annament, would be of greater value in future. Air. Jones said these six frigates already had been purchased at a cost of over £2,000,000 and the survey vessel was to come. Plan Tor Army. Diseussing the Ariny plan, Mr. Jones said advice had been given by FieldAldrshal Montgomery but only when he was asked for it he had submitted a meiuorandum on the Govemment's plan for an Army policy. The discussions with Field-Marslial Montgomery were invaluable. He was in general agreement with the Government's proposals. He thought it would be necessary to introdnce a system of eompulsory military training to obtain the personnel required. Montgomery's Views. Mr. Joucs quoted as foilows from Field-Marslial Montgomery 's views 011 the peacetime organisation of New Zealand land forces. "The nation must be careful to avoid overstraining its basic economy in .attempting to maintain in peace, land forc.es which arp beyond its.. capabilities. It is essential to balance verv earefully the size of the armed forces with the ueeds of the peaee economy of the country as a whole. The nation must ensure that its young men are traincd to arms so that, in the event of an emergency, it is capable of det'ending itself within the liomeland or further alield as occasion might demand. Tlie nation must be able to mobilise a proportion of its armed forces quiclcly so that it can handle any emergency without delay. It would be fatal to rely upon a period of respite at tlie beguining of hostilities, in which to train un army or to ropair any unreadiness. "The full military strength of any nation depends upon its trained reservcs. Tliere must be a good sekeme for expanding the national land forces in war to the fullest extent possible, liaving in view tlie needs of war pro-1 duct'on and of wartime economy. Core of Army Only. "Tliere seems no need for New Zealand to maintain any regular standing armv in peacetime, but New Zealand should maintain a regular 'content' in her non-permanent army. In view of the necds of industry and limitations of finance, this 'content' should be only that which is large enough to provide, firstly, a really good training for annual national service (that is, provision of instruetional and admiiiistrative staffs in training centres, schools, etc); secondly, a good regular cadre in the urjits of tlie non-perman-ent forces. This is absolntely essential if this non-permanent force is to be capable of taking the field in any reasonable time." AL-. Jones said Field-Marslial Montgomery summarised the position as far as New Zealand was concerned as foilows: — Firstly, base everything on a territorial army — whatever we can alford. Secondly, maintain sufficient regulars to train the territorial army — no more. Thirdly, if we can maintain a flow of men through the army with even three months' training, onr defensive organisation will be reasonably efficient. Fourthly, the training must be linked with the needs of industry and seasonal trades. 'Mr. Jones said Field-Marslial Montgomery stressed that tlie first essential was to efflcient.lv train men who would become instructors and cadres of tlie territorial force. The Minister added that the train; ing of tlie regular force, was now proceeding for this purpose. The Air Force. Mr. Jones quoted the following from Lord Teddeer's views on the Government's proposals for the postwar development. of the R-.N.Z.A.F.: — "T have examined this plan earefully and fmd mvself 111 full agreements As we see it here, the role of the New Zealand Air Force in war, is to contribute to the defenee of the main support area in the Soutli Paeific and vital strategic areas associated with it. Tt should be so designed and equipped that, in the absence of a threat to this • support area, it can contribute to the defenee of neighbouring strategic areas lTiore • innnediately threatened. The regulaj- force, which the plan provides, -VYitb the backiug of Ihe territorial

force, would seem to be projjerly balanced for the fulfilment of this role. To rneet the requirement of Jhe strategic area in question, I am in full agreement that the primary role of the regular bomber reconnaissance squadrons should be that of long rahge general reconnaissance. The proposed force is,, in my opinion, properly com posed and suitably balanced for the defenee ■ role in question. 1 am in f ui > agreement with the proposed peacetiim distribution of the force. We agret that Fiji is the key point in vouj strategic area. Hubjeet to inter-gov-ernmentai agreement, I am of opinion that oue of the most important roles oi the New Zealand Air Force will be to mahitahi Air Force bases in Fiji. F01 tliis reason 1 agree it is desirable that New Zealand should maintain advanc,Air Force elenieiits in Fiji in peace tinie. The niaintenance of these units would also i\ssist in the operationa! training of the peacetime Air Force." Mr. Jones sqM it was clear that thi leaders of the three services hau en dorsed the Government's plans ye'r, self-appointed experts in this country were condemning what the Governmen had done." No government has donmore for the defenee of this countr.than the Labour Government," declared Ivir. Jones. This statement was greeted with derisive laughter from Opposition benches. The Minister, reverting to the Navy policy, said that in addition to the frigates and survey vessel, a tug had been acquired for naval purposes, the R.N.V.R. was being established in four centres, the Hea Cadet movement ha, been assisted, courses overseas were being provided for our personnel, ever\ eudeavour was being made to increasc the efficiency of the R.N.Z.N. and the doekyard had been doing work for Government Departments in addition to its usual work. This ensured the ' retention of skilled personnel while it was also hoped to obtain another tlirei liundred personnel from the United Ivingdom wlio would be likely to sMv in New Zealand at tlie end of tlxeii naval service. Tlie Army development would includc the establislunent of Waiouru as an army scliool of instruction with Papakura, Linton and Burnham as the three mobilisation camps. Mr. Jones continued: "It is agreed that a territorial force should be provided and a decision has to be made as to whether it should be voluntary or under a form of national service. Mr. Doidge: Now we're getting somewhere. Mr. Jones: "It has been suggested that we should recruit or call up 800C men each year from the young men oi the 18-year-old group, for an initiai period of training of 14 weeks in dis trict training camps. On the completion of this training they will be posted to territorial units. They will attend three annual camps for twc weeks each and a number of muster parades, incliming some night parades with territorial units. At the end of their full training period they will bc posted to the reserve for seven years with no obligation for further training. ' ' It would be necessary, added the Minister, to provide oflicers and n.c.o.'s for sucli a territorial force. These could be raised from exservicemen oi: a volunteer basis. He was sure.retrurn ed nien would respond and tliat it vrouJd be possible to establish a firstclass territorial force in New Zealand Air. Doidge: When does this plan come into operation? ATr. Jones said it would be necessary for exservicemen voiunteering as oflicers and n.c.o. 's for the territorial force to undergo a two-weeks' -refresher course before being jiosted to territorial units. 4 'I am" of opinion that to obtain this force, it will be necessary to introduce a system of national service, ' ' said Mr. Jones. "No decision has been reached in regard to the recruitment of this force. If we are going to call up 8000 men each year, then I don't think there is any possibility of getting. that number except under some form of national service. ' '