AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1938, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE

CONFIDENT CLAIMS MADE BY MINISTERS SPEECHES IN NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE. REPLY TO LABOUR CRITICS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) in his reply in the no-confidence debate, devoted himself mainly to showing the way in which the Government had developed Australia’s defences after finding them reduced to low strengths by the previous Labour Government.

The Minister of Defence (Mr H. V. C. Thorby) 4n his speech, defied anybody to find fault with the defence organisation that was being carried out. The fifty Lockheed-Hudson planes ordered in the United States will cost £1,250,000. “WEAK LINK” NEW ZEALAND IN DEFENCE CHAIN. MR THORBY’S OBSERVATIONS. (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. During the defence debate in the House of Representatives, the Minister of Defence (Mr H. V. C. Thorby) said: “New Zealand is the weak link in the whole Empire chain, and strength of our sister Dominion is vital to us.” He added that owing to the progress of Australian organisation, Australia had been able to assist its sister Dominions. WORKING IN HARMONY. COMMONWEALTH AND NEW ZEALAND. CANBERRA, November 2. Senator Foil, who represents the Minister of Defence, Mr Thorby, in the Senate, stated today that New Zealand was co-operating satisfactorily with Australia in defence matters. Exchanges were arranged between officers on the New Zealand and Australian staff corps and New Zealand officers and non-commissioned officers were attending military courses in Australia. The resources of the Australian munition establishments had been investigated by visiting New Zealand officers and a considerable amount of work had been undertaken on behalf of the New Zealand Government, including a supply of munitions and various types of armaments.