LAND FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1939, Page 7

LAND FORCES

GOVERNMENT AWAITING i ADVICE I GENERAL MACKESY’S REPORT DUE NEXT WEEK. PRONOUNCEMENT BY PREMIER TO FOLLOW. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. A report on the personnel, equipment and training of the land force for the defence of New Zealand, by Major-General P. J. Mackesy, C. 8., D. 5.0., M.C., of the British General Staff; is expected to be made to the Government next week. An early pronouncement by the Prime Minister on the Government’s defence policy will follow. This information was given today by the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones, in an interview at Burnham, after he had inspected the Third Composite Infantry Battalion in camp and on parade. The Minister was asked in any changes in the territorial system and methods of training were proposed. “We are waiting for Major-General Mackesy’s report,” replied Mr Jones. “His report cannot be anticipated, and. in fact, we do not know what it will contain. The defence conference will also be helpful in assisting us to come to a decision. The Government, however. is satisfied that it was a good move to ootain the consent of the War Office to Major-General Mackesys making a full investigation and preparing a report on the army in New Zealand while he was visiting this country.

"Any amount of offers from individuals and organisations to give their Services in a defence force have been received, but I think we will be able to deal with them after Major-General Mackesy’s report is received and the Prime Minister makes his public statement of the Government’s decisions as to the land force needed for the country.”

Complete satisfaction with the results of the Territorial system, using a small force, was expressed by Mr Jones. Officers at Burnham today and throughout the Dominion had told him that the training the men were receiving was better than any training of the past. With schools of instruction, camps and weekend training excellent results had been obtained, and the standard and spirit of the men were exceptionally good. The response to the call for Territorials to attend camps was also most gratifying. The aim was to encourage recruits to attend a special course, the benefits of which were clearly reflected in the later work of the men.