DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1938, Page 8

DEFENCE.

NEW ZEALAND'S EXPENDITURE.

(To the Editor.)

Your oolrespoiident. Mr. T. J. Fleming, attempt* to justify Lord Rothermere's cxtrmva-' gant outburst by making a number of stateinoiits completcly at variance with official information recently issued by the Minister of Defence. Mr. Fleming charges the Government with neglecting the defence of the country. What are the facts? The cxpendittire on Army defences alone last y<tir wu This year it will l>c Al.'iSlUWii. The expenditure during the year H»:t4, when the previous <Jovernment wa.s in office, was only t - 21."i, less t lin.it half the amount. M r> Fl<*uing say* our ei|ui|unent is antiquated. 11" he read the speech delivered by the Hon. IF. .Jones at Levin last week he would hare known that the mu-t modern equipment obtainable (including the Bren machine trims, antiaircraft an<l coast defence equipment Mr. Flaming refers to) have been ordered a long time ago. hut delivery has not yet been completed owing to Britain'* rearimiment programme absorbing all available supplies. Without, questioii'iig the sincerity of Lord Kothermere's anxiety for tlie safety (if t) l€ British Kmpire. may I remind Mr. Fleming that, in July. 193."), when Mussolini embarked on his Ah\f-*iniaii campaign. l>oth of the London Hot herinere journals—the 'l).-iilv Mail" Mini "Evening News" —yelled, "Cin.il luck, Italy!" He himself has never a I tempted to Icotice.'t 1 hi* admiration for Signor Muuxolini, and by the moral support lie gave in Moslev'e Fascist* in Britain he showed very clearlv where his sympathie* lie. Under the circumstance*. I consider that Mr. Savage's terse rejilv was the only one po-<ible and showed a correct, appraisement of the value of the noble lord'* criticism. I?. C. SIMMON'S.