AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

REDUCED EXPENDITURE. FEDERAL POLICY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Sydney, May 13. Mr. W. M. Hughes announced his defence policy at Mullumbimby. He stated that the estimates had been framed on a basis providing 'or a total reduction of £175,000 below the estimated expenditure of 1921. The reductions had been made possible by the Washington decisions. Limited defence measures were necessary, hence provision was being made for the manufacture of munitions, but with reduced output, so that the nucleus of a defence organisation would exist, to be amplified in case of emergency. The Government intended to use the 12-Inch guns on the Australia for strengthening the coastal defence. A number of vessels in the Australian fleet would be placed in reserve, also the submarine flotilla. The personnel of the latter would be retained and distributed among the vessels in commission, to be available if necessary. There would be the greatest reductions in the army. It was proposed to abolish the junior cadet training. Cadets in future would be trained between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, then pass into the militia, ceasing at twenty. Everything was reduced to practically 25 per cent, of the war strengtji. Compensation would be paid to soldiers retired, unless absorbed into Other Government departments. The air service for the present would be reduced from four squadrons to one, but the civil aviation vote would be increased.