WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

DEFENCE.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

(Our Special Correspondent). 1

WELLINGTON, August 30. j Committee of Supply is- not as a; rule the most attractive guise assumed by the House of Representatives. It is usually parochial rather tluan national emphasising the small things of finance and ignoring the big ones, with the result that the House in Committee of Supply frequently bears the appearance of a, glorified road board meeting. But oil Friday tliere was a very acceptable exception to this general rule. The new Minister of Defence, Sir Heaton Rhodes one of the most courteous and conscientious administrators the Dominion ever lias had, having reminded the Committee he had been in office for only two or three weeks, frankly admitted ho was without a fully hatched policy and not yet intimately acquainted with all the intricacies of his Department.

ADDITIONAL COST. Tliis characteristic candour saved Sir Heaton from any personal criticism, but it did not satisfy the members who wanted to know why tho estimated expenditure in the third year of peace was some £50,000 larger 'than the actual expenditure in the previous year. The Minister’s explanation of this apparent incongruity was that the cost of small arms ammunition had gone up enormously, £IOO,OOO being required to purchase ammunition which “used to he bought for £28,000”. Whether £28,000, was the sum required before the war or at some later date was not disclosed and members, while: strongly urging economy did not press for further information. It was obvious all through the discussion that Sir Heaton’s personal popularity saved him from many embarrassing interrogations. TENTATIVE PROPOSALS.

But while the Minister admitted lie had no definite policy to submit to Parliament at the moment, he indicated fairly clearly what were his own views in regard to the Dominion’s contribution to the defence of the Empire. He would cut down the Territorial training from seven years to three years. Cadet training could continue up to.eighteen years and after that there would bo the service with the adult corps. There would be no barracks system and no training for periods of months.. It had been suggested that the period in camp for cadets should bo from a fortnight to three weeks, according to the efficiency of the. men and that the training of Territorials should ho adjusted to suit tho needs of the men and convenience of employers. -x r -oLABOUR And MILITARISM.

The only real hostility displayed to wards the Minister’s suggestions came from the Labour benches, where Mi' Holland reiterated his familiar platitudes in regard, to the “deplorable tone of the camps”, and the “exposure of more 'children to the - demoralising infl lie rites of militarism” and his loyal, though not very enthusiastic, colleagues Countenanced his utterances by their silence. It was a,matter of comment in the galleries that the far-fetelied denunciations of the chairman of the Labour Pary appeared to be obtaining little sympathy from the members sitting with him. Mr Howard, the member for Christchurch South, who continues to make progress in the estimation of the whole house, went the length of apologising for having referred to “gold laoe” and “brass hats”. He did not know the terms were offensive and lie lmd not employed them in that sense.