DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21759, 16 April 1936, Page 9

DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

TO THE EDITOR OS THE PRESS. Sir.—l have read various reports on air defence lately with interest and with a certain amount of anxiety.. It is absolutely essential that our defence system should be as importa.it as any other scheme in the country. At present it receives comparatively little attention when it should be developed energetically, as our national safety is of tantamount importance to every individual in the country. Evon so. the question of defence is put on the waiting list, while our worthy politicians discuss railway and other schemes.

In the event of war New Zealand's position is denned as follows: —U) Our duty as part of the British Empire is to give our best unreservedly ior the defence of it. (2) Our duty is to defend our own country with all our strength. That is all quite obvious, but are we eoing to throw ourselves into the fray untrained and inexperienced agains* very efficient and well-equipped armies of militant European nation-;' Conscription is still in force in New Zealand, so we. who are eligible, would have no option, but in th-* meantime are we eligibles going to disregard the necessity for training now and be unprepared for any emergency? We may have a little say now but would have none whatever if wr» were called up. It appears to be obvious that the control of the air is going to be as important as the control of the sea to the British Empire, both for home defence and for aggressive purposes. It is also evident that as far as Naw Zealand itself is concerned, a fleet big enough to defend our extensive sea coast would be impracticable and impossible. However, it is neither impracticable nor impossible for us to train and keep up a big enough air force to defend ourselves from aggressors. We should also help Great Britain admirably if, in the event of war. w« could send over several hundred trained and experienced pilots. It should be our policy in New Zealand with our 3mall population to concentrate on quality in preference to an attempt at quantity. Therefore, as a contribution to Empire defence wp should be doing our full share if we could send several hundred pilots instead of several thousand infantry, and at the same time not drain the country of men we could not spare. Even though this is all fairly obvious and in all probability will eventually come to pass, the attitude of those who are in control is too peaceful and unconcerned. The time seems to have come when immediate and extensive action is necessary. Must we dream blissfully on, and walk blindly into the inevitable?— Yours. 6tC " PRO PATRIA. April 15, 1936.