A DEFENCE PLAN FOR NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21715, 24 February 1936, Page 15

A DEFENCE PLAN FOR NEW ZEALAND

COMPLETE DISARMAMENT ADVOCATED

The complete disarmament of New Zealand, In an attempt to give a lead to the world in breaking the vicious circle of fear caused by mounting ar-maments,-was advocated by Mr L. A. Efford as part of a pacifist defence policy for the Dominion, which he expounded to a meeting of the New Zealand No More War Movement last evening. Mr N. M. Bell presided. • Mr Efford said that there.was no defence in the traditional weapons of war, for there could be no security against modern armaments. It was significant that New Zealand had never been defended from her own shores, but she had always sent soldiers overseas. When New Zealand was totally disarmed, the next step, said Mr Efford, would be to conclude regional treaties with various powers or with the League of Nations, agree-; ing to the establishment ot tarised zones round the New Zealand coast. The sanctity of these treaties was not essential to his scheme, but they would serve to publish to the world the stand taken by New Zeaf land. The Dominion would then put its relations with other countries on a just basis, included in which would be the reorganisation of New Zealand's administration of Samoa. New Zealand would renounce her claims to protection by the British army- and navy, and one of the effects of this would be to encourage the development of a distinctive national character and culture and an attitude of independence, especially toward the other nations 'of the Pacific. Within the country the economic and social system would have to be reformed on a basis of distributive justice to all. An important part of the plan would be to create through the educational system an attitude in the minds of the people which would allow a new outlet for popular emotion which now found its outlet in war. Mr Efford contended that now, for the first time In the history of the world, the ideals of the pacifist, and the practical needs of the world coincided, for it was now recognised that the only condition under which the modern economy could flourish and continue to provide a higher standard of living was by unity among the nations. Jf New Zealand were attacked and many perished they would have died before the eyes of the world for an ideal which the world would not willingly forget. j After the address there was an; open discussion, during which Mr Efford replied to several criticisms of his !plan.