DOMINION DEFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 212, 7 August 1937, Page 9

DOMINION DEFENCE.

A BIG EXPENDITURE EXPECTED. REMODELLED TERRITORIALS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 6. The first sensation of the legislative year will be the Labour Government’s defence programme, which will bo announced in the middle of next week, probably on Wednesday. The programme, from information available here, is likely to fall into four main groups:— Continuation of the coastal defence programme undertaken on the advice of Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence, when he visited New Zealand several years ago. ■ A marked increase in the number of aircraft in the Dominion’s air fleet.

A remodelling of the present Territorial Force both in the direction of increasing its numbers, and in that of heightening its efficiency. To this will be added a greater degree of mechanisation.

Provision for a budgetary expenditure much in excess of that in the past and a capital expenditure which may run into £2,000,000. The basis of the new programme is a report which was completed at high speed by the Defence Department several months ago. The sudden call for the report, which resulted in top pressure being applied in the department, was completely incomprehensible when its receipt was followed by no action. For a time it was considered that the information was desired to be used at the Imperial Conference, but various factors led to this theory being discarded. A more recent suggestion is that the defence programme was a bargaining point in the extracting of the new trade agreement from Britain. However, the facts may fit this, but it now appears unlikely. Here it is considered that the delay was due to unwillingness to act on the matter until the return of the Prime Minister. From what information is available it is clear that fast new aeroplanes are to be purchased in some numbers. They will be much better than any ’planes which the Dominion has possessed before. They may even include long-range bombers of a ty’pe which could hop the Tasman. These ’planes, in fact, will be extreme-range machines, twin-engined, and will be so modern that even if delivery of them could be obtained at once the personnel would not be here to fly them. New, trained personnel is needed to handle the aircraft and will not be available for some time yet. An interesting aspect of the new air plan is the fact that there will be a new base for the North Island. The new air field at Ohakea, near Palmerston North, will supplant the existing aerodrome at Hobsonville because of its central position. Ohakea, between Sandon and Bulls, is practically' flat and its approaches' arc described as ideal Survey of it began early tins year. Wigram will serve the South Island. . . ~ ... For the Territorial. Force there will he a new mechanisation plan, but the main object will he to get the foice hack on' to a satisfactory basis and avoid the situation which was created under the present plan, under which in 1935-36 onlv 49 per cent. of the strength of 8294 completed camp training and only 30 per cent, both m camp ami out of camp .training, is brought to an end. This is likely to be done by making it possible for territorials to enter camp without having to do so on their annual leave. . 'flic new programme will definitely he directed to creating a corps of troops round which could be formed a. powerful striking force both for use m New Zealand and for employment abroad it necessary. The force, in other words, is to be regarded as the basis of sonie'the plan will he financed is not to he revealed, but its cost will be suri)*'siu ,r to those who considered that the Government was not prepared to spend on defence. However, all the material will not he available at once, hut will he shipped here over a period. Pome of the new material, however, including the aeroplanes, will be made avaihthic almost at once.