DEFENCE FORCES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20507, 25 May 1938, Page 12

DEFENCE FORCES

REPLY TO OFFICERS LACK OF CO-OPERATION “REGRETTABLE,” SAYS MINISTER (By Teletrrapn—Special to Time*) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. In commenting on the manifesto issued by four senior officers of the New Zealand Territorial Force, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said that there were certain facts relating to their action which should be made public. From the changes which were being made it was evident to practically all the Territorial officers that a scheme of re-organisation of the land forces had been adopted by tlie Government. “Realising that the fullest co-oper-ation of all members was essential for its success. I instructed the Chief of the General Staff to take every opportunity of explaining the scheme to his officers and of inviting them to put forward suggestions that xx-ould tend further to improve the numerical strength and efficiency of the Territorials,” said Mr Jones. “As a result certain alterations were made tending to greater efficiency and other proposals for improvements are under consideration. ‘‘On Aprif 23 the commanding officers of the units located in Wellington at my invitation met me in my office to have a friendly chat on the question of land forces, and they responded to my request to express their views frankly and candidly. The discussion which ensued was x-aluable and I expressed appreciation of their willingness to render every possible assistance to place the Territorials on a better footing. Helpful Criticism Wanted “Knowing that a number of senior officers from various parts of the Dominion were attending an army school at Trentham early In May, I asked the Chief of the General Staff to extend to them an invitation to meet me in my office. “At the outset of the meeting, which was quite unofficial, I told them that my sole reason for inviting them along xvas for the purpose of hearing any helpful criticism they had to offer or any suggestions*” said Mr Jones. “I expressed the view that with their long experience and knowledge they would no doubt have some good ideas which, if adopted, would improve the efficiency of the forces, and I asked them to be quite candid. “The point which I here xxish to make is that the meeting was arranged not at the request of the officers but at my invitation. It xvas i«’ged that for the building up of the land forces we should do as much as had been and xvas being done for the Air Force, and one aspect of the matter that xvas impressed upon me was that if a state- ! ment xx-erc made showing that the Territorials xx*ere essential to the defence of Nexv Zealand and that the Gox-ernment xvas behind the land forces, such an action would do an enormous amount of good. Particulars Given “In addition to giving the officers an outline of what had been done, I also gax-e them particulars of other proposals which xx-ere being considered by the Government. I told them, too, that I xvould be making a public statement in regard to defence matters generally but that I was not able just at that time to say definitely when or where it xx-ould be made. In thanking them at the conclusion of the informal meeting, I told them I was anxious to secure and desired their fullest co-operation as xx-ell as that of everyone connected xvith the forces. “'On the morning immediately following this meeting one of these officers, speaking on behalf of the senior officers attending the course, asked the Chief of the General Staff to inform me that unless my statement xx-as made within a fortnight they xvould consider this as undue delay. I understood he replied that he could not convey such a message to me as they had no right to dictate to the Minister when he should make a statement, but that he xvould inform me that they were anxious to know when the statement would be released. Not Helpful Attitude “As I had some months previously accepted invitations tp deliver addresses at Whangarei and Dargaville, I took the opportunity at the latter place of speaking on the subject of defence, and made very full reference then to the land forces. In addition, I asked for the co-operation of all sections of the community in assisting the Government in its efforts to increase the strength of the Territorial forces and to bring them up to the highest state of efficiency.

“Seeing that a full report of my remarks was first published in the morning papers of May 18 and that the manifesto of the four senior officers was handed to the press in Auckland and appeared in the issues of May 19, it is evident that it had been prepared and signed prior to my speech,” concluded the Minister.

“This makes their action all the more regrettable, and instead of being helpful to the Territorial forces, as I had hoped, their attitude has been the reverse.”