PREPAREDNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 243, 15 October 1931, Page 6

PREPAREDNESS.

The letter over Mr. Wm. Clarke's signature brings very forcibly to the minds of those interested in the territorials the need for an army. Had Mr. Clarke been attacked by armed men on a road he had to use constantly would he not the next time take precautions and he prepared for such another encounter, or would he saunter along with his hands in his pockets and trust to luck? Any man who went to the Great War will agree thai war is. barbarous and insane, but at the same time he knows that any nation which is caught unprepared will suffer greater barbarities. We do not wish to perpetuate war, but until the time oomes when every nation disarms, shall we leave the doors open to any foreign intruders to compel us to submit to their rule? Mr. Clarke says the menace of war was never, greater than now. All the more reason that we should be ready .to keep our country free from invasion, and the barbarities and horrors of war. The clouds that are overshadowing the Far East would take very little time to spread to Australasia and would we tamely submit to have our homes invaded because we hated war and were not ready to stand" up and defend all that is dear to us?. Surely Mr. Clarke would be the' first to protect his home from harm and if he knew in-advance-would he not make every preparation to lessefr' or avert that danger? England has led the way in partial disarmament, <but it would be sheer lunacy on her part to scrap warships and defences to appease a few people whose slogan is "Peace at any price." , F.G.McD.