CALL FOR 1000.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 283, 30 November 1938, Page 15

CALL FOR 1000.

territorial force. DEFENCE OF DOMINION. | OOMKIIJIOK MAY BE HEEDED. (From Oar Correspondent.) NAPIER, Tuesday. World events in recent years had [ impressed upon the public the need for laid d J* ence of Zealand, of tlil u WE. Barnard, Speaker arid™* • n * e of Representatives, when addressing a meeting nailed to form a *kes Bay branch of the Territorial Association. He said that if the all f>r volunteers was not sufficiently met, •".•.pulsion might be forced upon the nonunion by shocr nocossity ( "For many of us," said Mr. Barnard, our views regarding military and naval pu partitions have been altered in the past tew years, owing to happenings in other parts of the world, and it has been to face up to the situation as it is to-day." ■t tl l° l ' vent of a war in Europe, and ■f England were involved, New Zealand might be thrown back on her own resources. New Zealand had hopes of the I nited States, but, not being under the Stars and Stripes, was not America's direct concern. '-It is stated that 9000 trained men I could be expanded in ail emergency," r Mr Barnard added, "but the trouble is that we have not got 9000 men. We are KWH) short of the 9000 minimum required. Mtrtance of Infantry. "The Air Force has been different. Its expansion has been great. I wish to point out, however, that although •the Air Force is a tremendous power, we cannot get away from the fact that the last resort is with the man on the ground the much despised infantryman." ' The future policy of the Government, which at present was opposed to compulsory military training, would depend a great deal on New Zealand's response to the call for the further 1000 men required. If sufficient men volunteered I that would be good. If not, the Government would have to look into the matter, and compulsion might be forced upon the Dominion by the sheer necessities of the situation. 'The question now," Mr. Barnard concluded, "is to support the system as vre i have it. What is required is a trained force to defend these shores, and not to send to the four corners of the earth. The Territorial Association project is home defence only. Our duty as older citizens is to take an interest in the territorials and show in a practical way that tbeir efforts are praiseworthy, and patriotic in the eyes of the community.