DEFENCE DUTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 14

DEFENCE DUTY.

MR. SEMPLE'S PLAIN TALK.

"N.Z. NOT IN SAFETY ZONE." (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. A most definite statement of what he considered were the duties of every physically fit man in New Zealand, irrespective of age, should the Dominion be threatened, was made by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, when he spoke at a luncheon following the opening of the Whirokino trestle bridge to-day.

"We in this little country, far as w» are from the nerve centres of a world in which fast communications have destroyed distance, cannot regard ourselves as safe," Mr. Semple said. "We may be within the four corners of a world where conflict may rage. "It is the duty of every physically fit man in this country to hold himself in readiness for the defence of New Zealand. Some people may say: 'I thought you were a pacifist.' I never was in my life, and I am not to-day." Mr. Semple said he got into troubla with the Government in 1914 because he fought the war-profiteers, for the reason that he regarded them as great an enemy as the Kaiser of that day.

"No one is going to take blood money while we are in power," continued Mr. Semple. "I say to you definitely that this country is not in a safety zone. It is in the danger zone, on account of the modern facilities at the command of modern nations, and at the risk of being called a jingo, I say against that every fit man in this country has to take his place. "If ever this country is threatened, you may say you are too old. I am not too old. Those who are fit, whether, they are boys or are 60, will have to do their part. "I don't want you to go away thinking I a.m a scaremonger. I want to say again, however, that we are not in a safety zone."

To his audience, Mr. Semple's remarks were obviously deeply stirring, as they were responded to with real enthusiasm.