DEFENCE POLICY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20279, 23 August 1937, Page 6

DEFENCE POLICY.

Matters concerning the defence of the Empire were discussed at the Imperial Conference and Mr Savage, speaking in Wellington on his return, stated that the British experts had been very willing to provide any information that he desired to obtain. It is the duty of those in authority to provide adequately for the defence of the country. That was stated in the report of the Conference. Free interchange of information was agreed upon as being of immense value in connection with defence, “it being recognised that it is the sole responsibility of the several Parliaments to decide the nature and scope of their own defence policy.” Probably it is in the light of the information obtained by the Prime Minister that his colleague, the Minister of Defence, has prepared his plans. ■ The voluntary basis is to be retained, but it is recognised that military training itself has undergone a tremendous change in post-war years. Mechanisation has been widely adopted, and as, unfortunately, struggles now proceeding show, there must bp a development of technical services that can be hardly be mastered without a period of intensive training. Some authorities hold that the best course for a country that does not rely on a system of compulsory military training, would be to train a small body of specialists, each man being an expert in some branch, and to base the mobilisation and training of a larger unit on that body of experts. That will mean adequate equipment for anti-aircraft work, field artillery and machine-guns, and a system of training that will enable any Dominion unit to co-operate efficiently with those from other parts of the Empire. It has been stated in Australia that the two countries will work together in this matter and that is a step in the right direction. The decision to make provision for training officers is a wise one, for more than ever leadership is vital in modern warfare, and only trained men can exercise the judgment and initiative that are required. The Minister should be able to count on strong support in any steps he may take to bring the defence forces of the Dominion up to the required standard. Their duty, along with the forces in the other portions of the Empire, will be solely a matter of defence.