COUNTRY'S DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 145, 23 June 1930, Page 11

COUNTRY'S DEFENCE

OTAGO OFMCEKS SPEAK

TERRITORIAL SYSTEM

UPHELD

The necessity for the adequate do-1 fence of New Zealand, and of the coun-I try being in the position to do its sharo as a unit of the Empire in the event of an Empire crisis, was stressed by speakers at tho'mess dinner oi the Otago Officers' Club, held lust week. Thy mess president (LieutenantColonel J. G. Jcfl'ery) challenged Dr. Gibb's right to speak on tho matter as he wab reported to have done, adding that the majority of the uicmbevs of tho Prfcsbyterian Church resented any minister using the name of the Church to, put weight, behind his personal opinions. "We, ono and all," ho said, "arc with theso gentlemen iv their hatred c: war, but we who havo tasicd of the horrors of it, who suffered unduly because of the Empiro not boing prepared in 1914, and who remember relatives and friends killed or still suffering, many of whom would not have so suffered had wo been ready, are determined, whilst we are willing to do all in our power to outlaw war, that Nov.' Zealand will not, if we can help it, be a party to a repetition -of that tragedy of Empiro unpreparodness we witneased iii 1914." lie called attcn(;on to a deputation that recently waited on the Prime Minister (Mr. G. W. 1 Porbex). :md to the- reply given to that , deputation, and contended that, in I making the reply he did, the head of the Government was ignorant of hi.s Empire responsibilities and. devoid of Imperialistic views and aspirations. I How could the honourable gentleman I possibly contend that the raw material I was better to work with -than the material that came from the Territorial forces? Statements liko that might be expected from men of the Uolland-Gibb, type, ,but not from Mr. Forbes. "I wish to stress ono point," added the speaker. "Tho activities of tho Otago Officers' Club are non-political, but wo will oppose most strenuously any Government, irrespective of party, which neglects to provide for the adequate protection of our Dominion, and of our being in the position to, do our share, as a unit of the Empire, in the event of an Empiro crisis. Opponents to. the present defence system, including our present Prime ' Minister- are also insistent that'it is costing the country too much. During the last few years, notwithstanding an increase of 50 per cent, iv our -population, the depreciation, of the .value of thcl£ sterling, the inclusion of Air and Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve expenses, which services' wore non-existent in pre-war days, the vote of,defence has been actually lower than for tho years from 1910 to 1914. This reduction1 in cost has been brought about by two cuts in" the vote, necessitating drastic cuts iv staff and curtailment of defence activities. Notwithstanding these cuts and consequent economies, wo still havo an efficient service, but a further "drastic cut will surely wreck tho system, which is now down to the irreducible, minimum. Kegarding an air force, tho speaker said that with our small population we could not hope to develop-an air force effectively. The cost would be-too great. "Although I do not advocate any reduction in tho education, vote, I would say this: 'Education takes one-sixth of our annual revenue, and, to show the disparity in the two votes, a 10 per cent, reduction in the education vote would hdarlyigivo our defence vote. I do not buggest that this should be done, but I maintain that whilst we are prepared to co-operate " wholeheartedly with tho Government ,in the effort to cut down expenditure —and suggestions have been given them for making temporary and considerable saving—we are not prepared to have, tho defence vote —a comparatively small one already— reduced to' a figure which will render the abolition of the present system, and the consequent entire wrecking of land cjefcncc activities—a-state plainly dosircd by the so-called Labour Party— whilst other votes, which havo not for years been' curbed at all are maintained at their present high levels." A CIVILIAN SOLDIER. Lieur.-Coloncl H. E. Barrowclough saHd thero was much indignation in Otago at the proposals of tho Government. He pointed out that General Russell was really a civilian soldier. During the Volunteer days ho was a major in the Wellington East Coast Mounted ! Regiment; after the introduction of the Territorial scheme he was commander of tho Mounted Rifles Brigade, ancl it was in that capacity that he went with the Expeditionary Force overesas. This, j was one of the most striking answers to' tho statements of the Prime Minister that the Territorial system produced nothing. Here they had an. .outstanding example of a commander .who .was a territorial officer, who got a great doal of Ins cxperionco in his capacity as a Territorial officer, and who went to the war and commanded a division of which Earl I-laig said that no other division had establiphed a better reputation. General Russell was head of tho National Defence League of tho country, and they were looking to him for assistance in the blow, that now threatened tho Dominion. Major-General Russell said he was keenly concerned with the protection of the Defence Forces of the country. The supporters of the present system of defence could help it enormously by'voicing their indignation at the idea of tho people of New Zealand being so apathetic and so selfish as not to be ready to make necessary sacrifices, cither to protect their own laud or to protect the interests of tho Empire. "We are not content," ho said, "with merely protecting our own skins; we bclicvo it is absolutely necessary for the security of our interests that we should be able to play, our part by doing our duty hi any,.part of the Empire to which we might bo called upon to provide troops."