MAKING WAR IMPOSSIBLE

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 12

MAKING WAR IMPOSSIBLE

POISON GAS DEVELOPMENTS. DEFENCE MINISTER'S BELIEF "WORLD TENDENCY TOWARD PEACE." (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The discussion of the Naval Defence Estimates in the House of Representatives last night was interspersed with references to New Zealand's control over naval policy, Labour speakers suggesting that the Dominion Parliament had no opportunity of revising Imperial Conference decisions, and that it was committed to them. This suggestion was flatly denied by the Leader of the Opposition, the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates, who attended the last Imperial Conference. He asserted that no part of the Empire was committed by its representative until its decisions had been ratified by the respective Parliaments. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, was asked to explain why the Naval Estimates showed an increase this year. His answer was that the increase was more apparent than real. There would actually bo an increase this year, owing to the necessity to spend money on improvements at Calliope Naval Dock, making it more suitable for a larger class of commercial vessel. This was an obligation to the Admiralty, which would credit the New Zealand Government with the expenditure, against ih.e cost of maintaining cruisers in New Zealand waters. Answering Mr. Savage, who was interested to know where the poison gas in the Dominion was stored-, Mr. Wilford explained that only small capsules were used at Devonport for training purposes. Cutting Down on Defence. "I would like to see the Defence Estimates cut down," declared the Minister, having in mind some comment from the Labour benches, "and there is no question that the tendency of the world is towards peace, not war. Many people believe, and I do too, though I might be laughed at, that the discoveries in regard to poisonous gas are going to end war. If members could read the papers I get from the Home Government in regard to these discoveries they would agree that gas will make countries hesitate or refuse to go to war." As for naval policy, the Minister declared his belief that'the present British Labour Government would stand up to Imperial interests as well as any other British Government, and he would be quite satisfied, if they said New Zealand required to keep no cruisers for the defence of the Empire, to carry out their advice.