N.Z.’S DEFENCE FORCES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 989, 4 June 1930, Page 18

N.Z.’S DEFENCE FORCES

WARNING AGAINST REDUCTION BRIGADIER POTTER’S VIEWS A note of warning: against the proposed reduction in New Zealand’s defence forces was sounded by Brigadier H. R. Potter, speaking at a dinner tended the King’s Empire Veterans in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. The officer commanding the Northern Command, in replying to the toast of the Army and Navy, said that New Zealand’s defence forces were never more efficient than at the present time. The spirit of obedience, service and sacrifice was being inculcated into a tremendous number of lads being trained, and before throwing away the institution that was teaching the boys grand things for the Empire, he advised the atuhorities to find out what was to replace it. Brigadier Potter added that in view of the lack of home discipline and training, there was no other institution that could put through the large number of youths that passed through the hands of the Defence Department. SERVICE IN NAVY A striking tribute to New Zealanders serving in the Navy was paid by Commodore Geoffrey Blake, in responding to the same toast. The commodore said he had no hesitation in saying he never wanted better men to command than the 50 per cent, of the men, now under his charge, who were born and bred in New Zealand. “In Samoa, under conditions just as trying as active service, scorched by sun, soaked by tropical rains, marching through dense bush with little to show for their efforts, they came back cheerful and determined to start next day,” said the commodore.