DEFENCE POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1920, Page 2

DEFENCE POLICY.

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION.- . Qlie of the biggest things yet to be done by the Government is the definition of a new defence policy, for it is common ground that there must be a new policy (says the Dominion). There are very, big questions involved in the formulation of the defence policy of the future, First'of all, there is Lord Jellicoe's report, and the action to be taken upon it. This report has not yet been fully considered by Cabinet. There is also the report on air defences, which should have been left, with the Government by Colonel Bettington, who was in New Zealand for some months for the purpose of advising the Government about aeroplane defence. Then there is the question of the establishment and traiaing of the territorial army and the cadets. All these three branches of the service will have to be co-ordinated in Some degree, and the definition of a, policy to include naval, aerial, and land defence, is a task of magnitude. Sir Jas. Allen, as Minister of Defence, will have to take the first niove in the matter, and he has yet to consult with his chief officers before he submits any recommendations to Cabinet. It may be that nothing will be disclosed by the Government as to their intentions until the necessary legislation, for it is presumed that legislation will be necessary, is submitted to Parliament.