NOT PREPARED FOR WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 11

NOT PREPARED FOR WAR.

TRAINING OF CITIZENS. DANGER OF RESTRICTION. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Speaking at the annual South African Peace Da/memorial service and parade. Sir Heaton Rhodes. Minister of Defence, said that when lie left Wellington, the Prime Minister had asked him to eonvev to the Christchureh veterans a message in which he sakl he remembered their services, which wore- appreciated both by himself and by the country. "He extended to them best wishes for the future, and expressed the hope that they would live to. be present on many more occasions. . Sir Heaton piiodcs said he remembered those times in South Africa, and especially.tie occasion .when peace -was signed. He remembered, as did nearly eyerv -Yen" Zealander, the comrades who . '..'Fai'-Bffieii "noffifirtly iiithe Bo.fith African War, but also in the recent Great War. Their memories also went back to the - great leaders, such as Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener, who had fought with., . them and had lived to see the Great War, . but not the end of it. These men had ever preached preparedness, but England was never prepared. She forgot a war as soon as it. was over. We were not prepared today. The people cried out that they were tired of war, and that it was time . territorial training and suchlike preparations were eased off. They had been eased off. As Minister for Defence he was forced to keep an eye on these tilings, because the finances were restricted and consequently training was also curtailed. ft But there was a danger in such restriction. The Defence Department did not wish to encourage a spirit of militarism, but wished the country to be prepared should any emergency arise. Some people said the department" was wrong in abolishing territorial camps. It was Ins desire again to institute these campg. and he would not be satisfied till they Mα the camps again.