DEFENCE POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 May 1938, Page 7

DEFENCE POLICY

THE' MINISTER’S-STATEMENT. COMMENT. BY SENIOR OFFICERS. ' ’'(By 'Telegraph—Press -Association.) ’ * AUCKLAND, ' May 18. The view, that the statement on defence made, at Dargaville by the Minister of Defence, the Hon F. Jones, is inadequate is expressed by four senior officers of the New Zealand Territorial Force in a manifesto. The manifesto is signed by Colonels C. R. Spragg, N. L. Macky, A.' S. Wilder and R. F. Gambrill. They state that the present organisation and establishment of the force is insufficient for the defence of New Zealand and say that they have issued the manifesto solely to ensure that an adequate and sufficient' land force shall be available for the defence of’ New Zealand. The officers, all of whom formerly commanded brigades, state inter alia: “(1) That the present organisation and establishment of the force is insufficient for the defence of New Zealand. > ,'“(2) That the number of volunteers trained and in training is insufficient to complete the establishment as at : present laid down. “(3) That the standard of physique and training of serving volunteers in some cases is such as to render them unsuited for the purpose of expansion of the present organisation in time of need. “(4) That the morale of the existing volunteers is being sapped by successive reductions in strength and lack of public support and that we fear disintegration of our present skeleton unless definite support is accorded by the Government and the people and assurances are given that the force is desired and will be fostered. “(5) That in our opinion the failure of the present volunteer system would not have occurred had the active support of successive governments been accorded our land forces, since the inception- of the voluntary system. SUPPORT FOR MINISTER. VIEWS OF DEFENCE LEAGUE. Gratification at the programme outlined by the Minister of Defence (the Hon F. Jones) is expressed in a statement made by the New Zealand Defence League, which also expresses the hope that other members of Cabinet will follow the lead given them by the Minister of Defence and do their utmost to ensure that the New Zealand defence forces will be adequate in the event of any emergency.