DEFENCE PLANS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20501, 18 May 1938, Page 8

DEFENCE PLANS

OUTLINE BY MINISTER £750,000 FOR BOMBERS TERRITORIALS NOT ADEQUATE NAVAL DIVISION EXPANSION (Special to Times) DARGAVILLE, Wednesday Proposals for expanding the Dominion’s defence forces were outlined by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F, Jones, at Dargavllle last evening. The Minister stated that the Government has ordered 30 Vickers Wellington aircraft at a cost, Including equipment, of £750,000. These machines will be flown to the Dominion as soon as the stations are ready. Orders have also been placed for five Airspeed Oxford aeroplanes for training the Air Force personnel. The necessary supplies of ammunition have also been ordered. The Minister referred to the Territorial Force, and made a special appeal to employers to assist.

The Minister stated that the Government was in close touch with the British authorities and had the advice of experts. It was thus more competent to decide the defence policy

than those less informed who often criticised It for political reasons. Thinking people would agree that much information had to be kept secret. “ The sea-going forces have been strengthened by the replacement of D class cruisers by cruisers of the Leandcr class,” said Mr Jones. “ All essential services for tiio mainten- ] ance of the sea-going squadron have ; been inaugurated, and most of them : will shortly he completed, namely, j the naval dockyard, naval armament depot, oil fuel storage and adequate accommodation for naval stores. The object of the policy is the maintenance of the sea-going squadron as a mobile and efficient unit based on New Zealand.” After referring to various extensions the Minister said that the financial aspect reflected in the naval defence estimates, which had increased from a total of £462,245 in 1935-36 to ’£632,062 in 1936-37 and to £760.000 in 1937-38—a grand total of £1,854,307 in three years. Development of Navy “ There are a number of other questions now under review which will be raised for the consideration of the Government shortly,” said the Minister. “ They may be enumerated under the following headings:— “(a) The introduction of a more progressive' policy for training naval reservists. “(b) The provision of suitable craft for local defence in times of emergency. “(c) The establishment of an'instructional centre at Auckland. This will enable a reduction to be made in the number of men to be sent to Australia for higher training. “(d) A naval barracks will be built to take the place of the old training vessel Philomel. This ship has practically outlived its usefulness.” The Minister went on to review the Government’s efforts at reorganising the Air Force and stated that the expenditure under this heading for 1937-38 was £567,484. Regarding the special reserve for coast defence and anti-aircraft services, Mr Jones stated that in the past eight months 224 men had received the’ initial three months’ training and a third batch of 260 had just been enlisted. Out of the 224 men, 60 had since enlisted in the regular forces. “ The present strength of our Territorial Force’ is 7400, of whom only 41 per cent have attended camp this year. This is not a satisfactory attendance and the Government is anxious to bring about a marked improvement. Another i6OO men are required to bring the peace establishment up to its full strength of 9ono of all ranks, and every effort will continue to be made to obtain them.” Appeal to Employers Mr Jones emphasised that the adequacy of the Territorial Force was not to he estimated, under presentday conditions, by the number of men i composing it. He strongly appealed |to employers to do all they could in i assisting and encouraging young em- ! ployee’s to undergo military training. ! Following a report from the new Gen- | eral Officer Commanding, Major Gen- ; eral J. E. Duigan. said the Minister, it was decided that the land forces [ should be 'reorganised in line with j what had been done in other parts of i the British Commonwealth.

Mechanisation had been taken seriously in hand. The Government had expended this year £15.000 on armytype vehicles, which formed a transport pool in each district.

“ The Army authorities are kept closely posted by 1 lie War Office in London respecting all developments in modern equipment.” said Mr Jones, “ an-J the Government is spending considerable amounts in providing armoured machine-gun carriers, Bren light machine-guns, new-pattern mortars. more wireless sets, additional anti-aircraft and coast defence equipment. The delivery of ihese new

weapons is naturally governed by the rearmament programme in England, but a proportion of them and the requis : te ammunition will be available this ;ear for training.” .