DEFENCE POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 11

DEFENCE POLICY.

SAFETY OF EMPIRE.

NAVAL, AIR, LAND FORCES.

ANOTHER CRUISER PROPOSED.

While approving the ideals of the League of Nations, the National party, according to its manifesto, believes that a strongly defended British Empire is the greatest factor in the preservation of world peace. In it«> manifesto issued yesterday the party etates that it accepts New Zealand's responsibility for providing local defence. In addition, a share should be taken in maintaining trade routes and in the common object of Kmpire defence.

"Our policy," the manifesto save, "is that: —

"We will maintain another cruiser in the New Zealand Division of the Koval Navv.

"We will provide sufficient aeroplanes to defend our country and sufficient equipment to service such machines, besides facilities for training an increasing number of young pilots, members of the Air Force and of the Territorial Air Force.

"We will develop our voluntary land forces into a highly efficient and mobile force, capable of putting up an effective defence in the event of attack.

"We will encourage a« complementary and essential to an efficient defence scheme a voluntary organisation of women and girls trained in nursing and firet-aid and the services supplementary to the fighting forces.

"In the event of war, the National party will mobilise the resources of the country, both men and money. No inhabitant of New Zealand will be allowed to exploit hie fellow citizen."