“ADEQUATE STEPS”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19994, 20 July 1939, Page 5

“ADEQUATE STEPS”

DEFENCES OF N.Z. i ' . : i REVIEW BY MINISTER INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE j PLANS MATURE IN 1941 ACCUMULATING RESET?'\ 7 ES

(Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The extent of the precautions being taken by .the Government to meet ■an emergency were outlined by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in the principal contribution to the Address-Ln-Reply debate in the House of Representatives last night. There had, he said, been an expenditure of £4.730,000 on the maintenance of an improved naval arm over a period of five years, and £4.,388,590 on the development of the air force. The Minister indicated, that his present plans would, reach maturity in 1941. In that year it was hoped to have a regular air force with 209 officers and 1937 of other ranks. In addition, -there would be a- territorial air force composed of 100 officers and 450 other ranks. The role of the Royal New Zealand Air Force would be to co-operate with the navy in protecting New Zealand trade, and •to co-operate with both the army and navy in the defence of New Zealand territory. The Minister said that the Wellington bombers which had been purchased would be used to seek out and destroy enemy surface vessels in focal areas north and south of New Zealand. They would be able to operate up to a distance of 500 miles from the New Zealand coast. They were long-range high-speed machines with >a large bomb capacity. Thirty machines had been purchased and some were due to arrive from Britain in October, Increase in Aircraft The Minister added that military

aircraft had increased from 24 on May 31. 1935, to 54 on March 31. 1939. Since that time, 24 Fairy Gordons had arrived, and 16 Vincents were now being unloaded in the DoiriMion. Besides these machines, 250 training and reconnaissance aircraft were on order. Of these, 109 were expected in New Zealand before the end of September. Five Airspeed Oxfords had been delivered and six more machines of this type had been ordered.

The Government had also placed orders in the Untied Kingdom for a supply of bombs sufficient for reserve purposes. The bulk of these orders had been fulfilled. Dealing with improvements in the naval arm of the Dominion's defence, the Minister said that the armament depot had practically been completed and the magazines stocked with reserves. The ammunition and armament stores had 'been more than doubled during the past four years. The policy of increasing reserves would be continued and during the next two years £25,000 would be spent on this purpose. The Minister added that the installation of modern equipment at the naval base was reducing the necessity for ships to return to Britain for refitting, and ultimately would' remove the necessity altogether. * N.Z. Naval Personnel

The introduction of a long-term personnel policy had increased the number of New Zealand entries to the navy, and the net increase during the past three years was 200 ratings. It was anticipated that by 1946 alt ratings would be New Zealanders with the exception of the skilled branches. Mr. Jones said' that the Government had taken the advice of the defence conference to increase xhe territorial strength to 16,000. This would involve an expenditure in maintenance and equipment of over £200,000. In addition, it had gone further than the recommendations of the conference and decided to establish a territorial reserve. The coastal defence had been strengthened. This v'ork could be completed when certain equipment needed for three ports had arrived from overseas. Large orders had been placed for modern equipment and this was coming forward rapidly. The field artillery brigades had been mechanised with the exception of the howitzer batteries, and the equipment for these had been ordered. Attendances at Camps

The Minister proceeded to outline the attendances at training camps, etc., and What had been done in the direction of building up special reserves and ‘ reserves of stores and ammunition.

Dealing with the navy, the Minister said that such thought and attention had been directed to this subject in an endeavour to build up a Naw Zealand navy 'and the programme -that had been laid down ment with the approval of the British Government. It was in line with the recommendation made by Earl Jellicoe in 1919.

The Minister gave particulars of the capital costs involved through the expansion of the air force. Aerodrome construction totalled £2,120,640. In addition, £198,950 had been spent on territorial squadron buildings, £25,000 on railway workshops buildings, £2OOO on headquarters and communications, £IO.OOO on a survey of the Pacific Islands, £480.000 on ammunition and bombs, £1,342.000 on aircraft spares, etc., and £210,000 on reserve aircraft and storage accommodation; making a total of £2,267,950, and a grand total of £4,388,590.

When all these factors were taken into consideration, it would be shown clearly that the Government was taking adequate steps for the protection of New Zealand. In spite of what the Opposition had to say, he believed that the people of the Dominion realised that the Labour Government had done more to establish* their security than its predecessor.