LACK OF INITIATIVE SHOWN

Chronicle (Levin), 6 October 1948, Page 7

LACK OF INITIATIVE SHOWN

" Press Associatlon)

Opposition Protest Regarding Defence

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WEliIilJMCxTOJN, UCt. 0. When the ' House of Representatives debated the Army estimates today, there was a harrage of Opposition protests at the Government's lack of initiative regarding the country's defence needs. Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Wallaee Opposition) said that the internationa. anmiunit.ion dump might blow up at any minute. The Minister of Defence had niade a statement in April which haa been described then as too nebulous to go on and there had been little progress since. Where was the territorial force i Mr. Macdonald then moved that tiu vote of the Army Department be re duced by £5 as an indication that tio House disapproved of the delays in introducing universal military training especially in view of the following considerations: — (a) The deterioration in the general world situation, (b) the expressed determination to oppose any f'orm of universal service comirig from Oommunists and others who, in order to serve a foreign power better, would prefer to see New Zealand defenceless. Mr. R. M. Macfarlane (Cliristchurcli Gentral), who was acting as chairman of committees, ruled the consideratiom out of order on the grounds -that they raised a question of Government policy The amendment to reduce the vote by £5 was pennitted. Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Pahiatua, ()p position) objecting to the ruling, sanl the amendment did not involve Goveru ment policy but only an extension oi a poliev already stated and which tfie Opposition asked that the Goverumen proceed in implementing. An old rulim; of the House was to the general elfecl that amendments could be regarded aaffecting policy only where legislation was required to give thein effect, and by no stretch of imagination did that apply in the present case. In any event he thoijght the House should have the opportunity of debating the inaltei which iiad already been. )iientioned in the annual report of the Army Department and could be discussed on the. estimates from cover to cover. Mr. Nash, Acting Prime Minister, said the reasons for the amendiuent could be given but not inchuled in it. Mr. Alaedonald said his intention would be met adequately if the amend: ment fmished at "£5. " Mr. A. C. Baxter (Raglan, Labour) said he did not know why the Army vote should be c-hosen as the Army did not comp'rise the whole of the defence force. He would hate to see the amend ment in its original f'orm used to stampede the people into some sort of war panie and give the idea that war was imminent. The obvious thing to do was to wait to see what the Prime Alinister would say on his return from Londou. ALr. J. T. Watt (>St, Albans,.dt)pposi Lion): This isn't the Federation of Labour. Mr. Baxter said Mr. Fraser would undoubtedly discuss in London the role which New Zealand could plav in the defence of the British Commonwealth and of her owji shores. He did noi think there would be any ditiieulty in recruiting, provided the strength of the regular force was kept at a maximuni standard consistent with effieiency and modern methods. Mr. Holyoake asked why the House ihonld wait and see. The Prime Minister had already clearly stated what was in his mind and he thought he knew what was in the mind of the Minister of Defence. If there was a free vote he felt both would register for ihe amendment. Yet according to the aember for Raglan — the Government tpokesman on defence — they would Tait and see how long it would take ;he watersiders to make up their ninds and to ascertain how great was he infcience of the Oommunists. He vas concerned that when the question of military training was involved, the acting Prime Minister and Minister oi Defence should delegate their right artcl ohligation to speak, to the member for Raglan. A division was taken on the amend ment that the vote should be reduced by £5 and it was defeated bv 34 votes to 30. Small Territorial Vote Mr. W. II. Fortune (Eden, Opposition) said the vote of £i'()0() for tlu territorial forccs was just as ludicrou.He would like to believe our erstwliib ally Russia was bluffing but he did noi believe that. Nor did he think thar our overseas leaders believed it. The vote of £2000 was insutficient to iniplement the Government 's policy for the territorial force. It was not a case of stampeding the public as the iiiember for Raglan considered. Tlic sum of £2000 did not toucli the fringe of what the Government had in mind. If their forces were to be on a proper and ethcient basis, it would be necessary to spend many times £2000. The Prime Minister had sj)oken very serious words before he left for overseas and he knew inore tlian most members of the House.

He was able to convinee the Federation of I.abour in a few ininutes that its' attitude was wrong. If £2000 wTas all the Government was prepared to spend to implement its policy, it was time it should step aside and *allow someone clse to take over. ' JMr. T. L. Macdonald said £2000 was not in line with the statement the Minister of Defence had made in the House earlier in the session. Wh,at sort of territorial force would the country get for an expenditure of that amoun't? It took time to mould and train a force into anything worthwhile. Mr. J. R-. Marshall (Mt. Victoria, Opposition) said it was contidently expected that the Government would make a decision when the Prime Minister returned from overseas but there was no vote to implement any sueh decision. The present estimates were up to the end'of March and diil that mean nothing would be done untii after April 1 of next year? Minister Explains Mr. Jones, . replying, said the Army was at present recruiting for the regular force. They had 2300 all ranks, excluding the J Force, and had made provision this year for 2600. It was hoped to build the force eventually up to 3700. No oue imagined that a vote of £2000 for the territorial force wat> enough. It was simply a token vote and sufficient money would be available when it was decided how and when the territorial force should be established. Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Hauraki, Opposition) said he disagreed that the House should wait • until the Prime Minister returned from overseas before deciding what should be done. Resolutions were being passed by Oommunists and others that were detrimental to tlu defence forces but if the Government announced its policy they would probably cease. .-•• ■ • •• Circular to Ex-officers ' Mr. T. Tj. JMacdonald said ex-officers who had been cireularised and asked it they would be prepared to help in a scheme of military training, wonld bc deeply shoeked by ^ the Alinister 's statement that the sum of £2000 for the territorial force was a token vote. The success of the territorial force would largely clepend on the capability of the officers. To say the vote was a token item was to say that nothing much wato be done this year. The enthusiasn: of these officers who were anxious to help, would be blunted. He" suggested that the Minister make an adequate and full statement to reassure these ex officers who had been cireularised, that something worthwhile was envisaged by the Government. Mr. Jones, replying, said that even though Field Marshal ■ Mqntgomery had ▼ isited the country abou't a year ago. cireumstances h;u) changed since the)) So far as the territorial force was con . cerned, he did not know at present ho^\ manv replies had been received in re sponse to the circular but he wa. anxious to get the scheme under wav asoo)) as possible. Field Marshal Mont gomerv lvad said it was essential to have a highly trained alid efficient regular force which could be used ti build up an efficient territorial force The Alinister said he knew that many people were impatient for the announce ment of a training scheme but he thought the main questions could safely be left to the Prime Alinister. I) would be best to wait until the Prirnt Alinister returned to the country and then hear his views. Air. Holland: And then have a referendunii1 Air. Jones said the Labour Goverument had never failed in its re sponsibility toward providing defencot. for. the country and never would faii in that direction. It was not the type of debate in which the questioii of compulsory militarv service could be discussed. The determination of that question should be left until the return of the Prime Alinister from overseas, said the Acting Prime Alinister, Air. Nash. A:lr. Nash said his own view of the position was that there should be some systerii of compulsory national service but the Government' policy was elear and the Government would back up the statement of policy as enunciated by thiPrime Alinister last Tuesday night. There was no further discussion on the vote for the Army Department oi' £3,092,5.)0 (£3,470,245 expended last year), which was passed.