NO COMPULSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 281, 28 November 1938, Page 8

NO COMPULSION.

MILITARY TRAINING. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. 'DOMINION FORCE ADEQUATE.' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHL'RCH, this day. Commenting to-day 011 the New Zealand Defence League's policy of a return to compulsory military training, the Minister of Dcfence. Hon. F. Jones, said to-day that the Government had no intention of returning to this system. '•We think the force we are training in New Zealand is quite adequate."' said the Minister. "After all. it is a peacetime force, which could be rapidly expanded in the event of an emergency. Our aim is to give the best training possible to pie pa re potential leaders who could train others, if this w-.is necessary.'' Mr. .Joimv said the Government was well posted with information and had a substantial basis for the. view that tile scope of attack 011 either New Zealand or Australia could not be more than a raid. This was a matter of opinion. Suine people might think differently, but this was the view of the Home authorities as recently as the last Imperial Conference, ami it was the view of the Chief of Staff in New Zealand to-day. I'or that reason the New Zealand force was considered adequate. Australia was a larger country, and to protect her long coastline against the possibility of attack by a raider a much larger force was required. JOINT DEFENCE PLAN. AUSTRALIA AND DOMINION. ADVOCATED BY CONFERENCE. The principle of equality of economic sacrifice in wartime was affirmed by the New Zealand Defence League at its Dominion conference in Wellington. The league also adopted resolutions advocating the restoration of the territorial units which existed prior to IH2I through the re introduction of compulsory military training. The view was held that the defence of Australia and New Zealand should l>e regarded as one indivisible problem, and the league urged that plans for joint and mutual defence should be the subject of consultation between the general staffs of the two countries. .Support was also given to the suggestion of establishing a national register of both men and women, who would be under an obligation to serve the country in a manner most convenient to their ability and to the requirements of the situation. Appreciation was expressed of legislation designed to improve physical welfare.