DEFENCE PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1939, Page 7

DEFENCE PLANS

GOVERNMENT TO TAKE EARLY ACTION FOLLOWING ON CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND REPORT OF GENERAL MACKERSEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, June 4. The determination of the Government to put into effect the recommendations of the recent Pacific Defence Conference and of Major-General P. J. Mackesy, who reported on New Zealand’s land forces, as soon as possible, was emphasised by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in an interview. The Minister said a decision to raise the establishment of the land forces to 15,000 had already been made, and within the next week or two, further steps would be taken. Following as it did on the defence conference, Major-General Mackesy’s report was particularly valuable, the Minister said, and though he was not able to divulge the recommendations made, they would be of great assistance to the Government in taking rights steps to make New Zealand as well defended as possible in the event of war.

The defence conference had given the Government an idea of the part this country would be expected to play in the Pacific if war broke out, and General Mackesy, in making his report, had been concerned with the question of bringing the land forces of the Dominion to the highest state of efficiency in relation to that duty. It was thus ensured that there would be an absolute maximum of co-ordin-ation. IF THE CALL COMES MR COATES ON THE DUTY OF SERVICE. ATTITUDE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 4. , “This is a great little country of ours, and, though we all growl like blazes, we know there is not a man who is not prepared to give to the last breath in his body to save it if the necessity comes along,” said Major the Rt Hon J. G. Coates, amid cheering, at an Auckland regimental reunion in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday night. About 300 returned soldiers, who served with Auckland regiments in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, were present, Mr Coates presiding. High officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force attended in addition to the mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and several members of the present territorial force, who were special guests. Proposing the toast of “The Services,” Mr Coates said there were very difficult times and the best was asked of every citizen. The average man was needed to build up auxiliary forces, and in this respect the returned soldier took off his hat to the young men, who had volunteered to keep up the tradition of the past. Elderly men, too, who had seen service, should understand that their duties were not finished, and he felt that, if they were wanted, they would be there. '

‘I don’t suppose there is any prouder man than a returned soldier whose son has shown his willingness to carry on where he left off,” continued Mr Coates. “One has only to look at the faces of members of the Auckland regiments and remnants of the Expeditionary Force to realise that they could render a good account of themselves if called upon. “In the meantime we must lend our moral support to the young men of various forces. We owe them a debt of gratitude and know they will look after us in the future.”