DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Issue LVII, 1 March 1926, Page 10

DEFENCE.

HOW LABOUR VIEWS THE POSITION.

\ r OLXJUTEE.a ARMY PROPOSED. "PREPARED TO FACE THE PROBLEM." The fact that Labour-? defence policy consists of one clause, advocating the repeal of th.j Military SeVvii-e Act. the Defence Act, and lertain of the War Regulations, was u*ed as a moans of attack by Labour's opponeta at the last general election. There is a feeling in certain sections of tin? Labour movement that some concrete defence proposals should be put forward, and the matter will be considered at the annual conference of the party in April next, says the Wellington ''Post."

As it st.mils at present. Labour's defence policy is as follows: —"The repeal of the Military Service Art and the Defence Act. The repeal of all provisions in (he War Regulations Act and its amendments that interfere with civil and industrial liberties.' .

The first proposal put forward is one from Timaru, suggesting that the section should be deleted from the policy and that the following defence policy should be considered: —"The party wholeheartedly supports the British Labour party in its efforts to secure disarmament by agreement among the nations, and declares that it will be prepared to face the problem of defence on assuming office as the Government of the Dominion in the light of that policy, and will be guided by the circumstances prevailing at that time, as to the extent to which disarmament can he achieved or defence is necessary."

Definite proposals for the establishment of a defence system are put forward by other bodies, which, while advocating a citizen army, make it plain that they are directly opposed to anything in the nature of compulsion. The Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators' Union and the Canterbury Drivers' Union suggest the following Oa a statement of the party's defence policy: — (a) Repeal of the Military Service lAct. (b) A citizen army on a voluntary basis, with standard wages, while on duty, together With practical measures for the promotion of peace. The Timaru Labour representation Council advocates, very briefly, "a volunteer system of defence." It is pointed out that the proposa 4 for a citizen army is not new, as it previously had a place in the party's platform, being subsequently replaced by the present clause. Opinion appears to be fairly evenly divided in Labour circles as to the necessity of a volunteer army, and the matter will, no doubt, be very keenly discussed at the coming conference.