Defence Economy.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1922, Page 4

Defence Economy.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

WELLINGTON, March 29. , The Minister of Defence, speaking of reductions in his Department, said the task was difficult because a large number of excellent officers had spent the best part of their lives in the service, and were handicapped in taking positions a little inferior to those they occupied. Much consideration had been given to each individual case. Notwithstanding its reductions rcry liiu> work was being done by those left. The Minister said it was difficult to I decide how to treat the territorials consistent with efficiency and the carrying out of the law. Tt was with great reluctance that he had to consider the abolition of camps. Personally, he believed they were a wonderful aid to efficiency, and it was very difficult, especially in the ease of mounted corps, to do without them. Units might give trainees the option of consolidating official drills in a seven days’ camp, for which no pay would be given. Every offort on the part of trainees to hold such camps would be encouraged by the Department. “The sweeping reductions which have been made in the Department have resulted entirely from the necessity for drastic economies in the Public Service,” added the Minister, “and not because of any desirability for reducing the staff owing to tli G end of the war. If the result of experi-

enee shows that enlargement of tlic personnel and the reinstatement of the conditions abolished at present is necessary to the efficiency of the service, there will not be a great deal of difficulty in the near future in seriously considering the position when financial conditions improve.” A NUMBER OF APPEALS. The Minister of Defence, in reply to a question yesterday regarding the plans for retrenchment in the Defence Department, stated that all those who were to be retrenched had already received their notices, and a number had appealed and their appeals would he heard. As to the extent of the retrenchment, lie stated that lie did not wish to further curtail the efficiency of the Department, hut if Parliament said the Defence Department must be washed out it would have to go, but he hoped to avoid further curtailment, and an endeavour would be made to ensure the efficiency of the Department by retaining the most efficient officers.