ARMY CONTROL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 35, 4 November 1937, Page 3

ARMY CONTROL

■Press Association.)

Territorial Representation on 3oard MINISTER'S ATTITUDE

(By Telegrapb-

WELLINGTON', Last Night. •. In the House to-day further consideration was given in Oomxnittee stages to the Army Board Bill. Mr. Coates asked • that territoriala should be given an opportunity of assisting in deeiding • the military poliey. Territorial o|ficers had felt very much out of it in the past. Ho asked the Minister if he would make provision for the inclusion of the senior territorial officer on the boaTd. It was the volunteer who did the "work and it would tend to increase co-operation between the permanent staff and the voiunteers. The Minister of * Defence (Hon. FJones) said he did not think it wise to impute that there was any laek of cooperation between the territorial and regular- forces. There was not. They were working in -the closest co-opera-tion and he pointed out that quite a number of permanent officers to-day had been territorials themselves. While he could not see his way to accept Mr. Coates' suggestion he thought it a good idea that there should be a discussion of common questions . between members of the permanent and territorial forces from tipa® to time. There was no suggestion that territorial officers had been shut out or neglected and he thought it would not be wise at the present time to have. a territorial officer as a permanent. member of the board. Mr. J. Hargest vsai,d there was no desire of any member -of the Opposiition t^attempt;to canse a cleavage between territorials and the permanent staff, but here was a chance to give territorials encouragement by 'their being represented on the board. \ Hon. J. Cobbe .also supported Mr. Coates' proposal as.did Messrs. Endean and Kyle. The Minister pointed out that at times certain poliey shfttters were dis^ cussed' by the'.board* and.at: these ' discussions it would be inadviasble spme-5 times to have territorial officers • present. He would be quite pleased to seek assistance from territorial officers from time to time, but' he did not think it would be advisable to have a territorial officer as a' permanent- member of thc board. . : Mr. J, Hargest contended that thc control-of territorial units was being taken away from them by the removal of. a number of colonels from their commands. He said he had seen.a copy 'of the proposals to b^t brQught. into f orce when the board was set^up and it^was plain to . hiin that 1 territorial officers would have less. say in the control of their units than before. To overcome this there should • be* a senior territorial officer on the board even if only in an advisory capacity, • Mr. Coates moved an amendment to clause four of the Bill making provision for the appointment of a territorial officer to the board. ' The amendment was supported by Mr. Hargest and the leader of the Opposition (Mt. Hamilton) " and on being put to a division was lost by •43—20. The Bill passed.through the remaining stages without amendment.