DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 8

DEFENCE.

NATIONAL REGISTER PLAN. (To the Editor.) Your correspondent E. Satchel] and others writing in similar vein conveniently overlook the fact that the Socialists disarmed Britain in tlie first place, with the result that Britain was impotent at the time of the fir-t fotalitarian Xow that Britain is endeavouring to make up for lost ti:n<- with regard to her rtnte of preparedness, the Socialists are again obstructing by their opj>.i<ition to a compulsory national rcgii-ter. Australian Socialists are emulating t lioir example, whilst our own Socialist C;overtr;ipnt almost entirely ignores the vital que-tioii of defence. The Socialist cry of "opposition to the principle of conscription or compulsion where national service is concerned" is sheer lunik. I? not social security a national service, and what of conscription there? l> not primary produce marketins a conscription of the farmer-; and compulsory trade* unio'ii-in ii inscription of the workers? Mr. Sat he!! mentions (lie safeguard of a stron:: British Xavy. Ts he aware that the c--t |-er head <if the population of the naval e-timate- for 1038 a> regard- the inhabitant!: of <;ro.it Britain was f-2 5/7 and of the inhabitant- of Xew Zealand 9/? E. BLACKWOOD MOORE.