DEFENCE OF THE DOMINION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21866, 20 August 1936, Page 12

DEFENCE OF THE DOMINION

Debate Opens In The House CO-OPERATION IN EMPIRE DEVELOPING AVIATION [From Our Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, August 19. The most notable feature of the full* dress debate on defence in the House of Representatives to-day was the almost complete unanimity of all sides of the House of the need for the Dominion to take steps to provide an adequate measure of protection in the event of aggression. The debate was an all-day affair, but generally it seemed to lack some of the interest which was expected of it Prominent among the many speeches from both the Government and Opposition benches was that of Mr J. Hargest i Nat.. Awarua).. actually the first speaker to get down to specific suggestions, and that of the Minister for Defence in the Dominion, the Hon, F. Jones, earned the congratulations of the other- side of the House for his frank survey. The Opposition,- through its leader, the Rt. Hon. G, W. Forbes, promised its’ assistance in considering the problems involved, while the Rt. H6n. J. G. Coates (Nat., Kaipara), going a step further, repeated his earlier suggestion of the formation of a committee from both sides of the House to discuss the approach to the question. In the speech of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, there was emphasis on the .need for co-operation among all units of the Empire, and particularly those in the Pacific. A United Parliament Mr Forbes opened the debate. .He said that the time had come when it was imperative to consider the question of defence. He expressed the opinion that the present military staff ■was well qualified to advise the Government on what was required. Mr Forbes explained that in asking for a debate the Opposition had no desire to make political capital. The defence of the country was the responsibility of the Government, but the ’Opposition felt that it would be an advantage for the Government to havea united Parliament behind it in putting a defence policy into operation. “If we are going to have an effective territorial force, it must have the backing of the public,” said Mr Forbes, when referring to the apathy of the public towards the territorial system. The territorials, he added, were deserving of public sympathy and support. That was one of the first essentials of a satisfactory territorial force, Mr Forbes mentioned that, hewas Prime Minister at the time compulsory military training was abolished. Drastic reductions in expenditure were then necessary, and in cutting down the defence vote -the then Government 'had in mind that the British Government was doing its best to bring about a reduction In armaments and that it was making big cuts in defence expenditure. The New » Zealand Government felt that it should keep In step with Britain. It had to be remembered also that conditions in Europe at that time were very different from what they were to-day. He was not advocating the reintroduction of compulsory military training, but nevertheless the voluntary system had proved disappointing, for it had not received the support one was entitled to expect. Mechanical Equipment •Referring to mechanised, forces, Mr Forbes said that training with mechanical equipment required longer experience than had been the case with the ordinary soldier in the past. The common belief, probably based on the experience of the Great War, was that a man could take his place in the line after a comparatively short period of training. It was very evident -that a short period of training would be of little advantage with the development of mechanised forces. “It is not merely a question of what we are going to, do in New Zealand,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt, Hon. M- J. Savage, “but I think it is necessary that -we should know what Great Britain is doing, and what Australia is doing. We have a common purpose, and it is necessary that we should know what co-operation or assistance we can expect from other members cf the British Commonwealth of Nations. In discussing this matter with the British Government we did not leave out anything we could think of, and the offer, of a visit from an aviation expert was made from Great Britain, so that the least we could do was to fall in- with the idea. “We made up our minds that there was more to do than put money on the estimates,” Mr Savage continued, “because merely putting money on the estimates will not defend this country. We are determined to spend our money intelligently, and I think one way to do that is to get the very best advice from overseas. Settling Differences “Some day we will realise' that economic contradictions are not settled by wars, but in the meantime we must accept things as we find them, and one cannot very well rest with a peaceful mind to-day. In discussing the question- of defence the British Dominions bordering on the Pacific must have common ideas, and, for that reason more than any other, it seems that those who. ore going to be in difficulty with us should be taken into our confidence, so that we may know exactly what to expect from one another. "I do not think that we have done as well as we might have,” said Mr Savage, when discussing the development of aviation in the Dominion. “When I say that I am not talking politics. Governments in the past have done something in the way of providing aerodromes, but at the ' moment it would take a Philadelphia lawyer to solve the question of ownership and control of many of them. We will have to straighten out those problems for a start, and secure some unity of control.” Developing Aviation Mr Savage referred to the suggestion that New Zealand might be able to produce its own machines. There were some experts, he said, who would claim that this could be done. Quite apart from that consideration, he felt that the time was ripe for a substantial development in civil and defence aviation in the Dominion. In that opinion, he felt sure that he had the ®yppo£t of the majority of the public. The Prime Minister emphasised the necessity for training men at least in a knowledge of the machines themselves, so that in the event of any emergency there would be no “start He said that he felt in New Zealand it SaS** Possifcte to develop a nation * earth” * 01811 ’ seconci to nothing on k?*®, we ’will never have to *«in. about ccempulsory service,” Mr

Savage added. “I do not like the look of it a bit' It seems to me that if we make it possible for men to do the right thing they will do it. Some Governments of the past have not done that. If the men of New Zealand are given the opportunity they will do just as well- ap anybody else.” Co-operation Helpful There had been a controversy in Australia about conscription, and conscription had been turned down, but Australia had not turned down the fight when it came to fighting. In New Zealand, given proper methods, encouragement, and proper facilities, there would be nothing wrong, but whatever happened, the Prime Minister concluded, whether it was organising for peace or for war, the cooperation of members of the House would be helpful to any Government whether Labour or otherwise. Mr W. T. Anderton (Govt., Eden), while suggesting correlation of Empire units in defence plans, deprecated too exaggerated an idea of the possibility of New Zealand being involved in strife. “I think that the European Situation is agitating minds in New Zealand more than need be,” Mr Anderton said. “I say this realising at the same time the extent of jingoism and war-mongering in Europe, and realising, too, that there are madmen like Hitler and Mussolini creeping about the earth, who are a danger to the peace of the world, but I am able to go to bed every night feeling happy that New Zealand is 14,000 miles away from all that” Mr Anderton advocated the nationalisation of the armament industry. He expressed disagreement with those speakers who believed that New Zealand’s greatest defence, because of her isolation, would be found in the air. “Report Unsatisfactory” “I regard this report as being particularly unsatisfactory because it discloses the fact that New Zealand is in a very precarious position,” said Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago), when referring to the annual report of the general officer commanding the New Zealand Military Forces. “In view of the present international situation no country can afford to be in such a state of unpreparedness as we are,” Mr Bodkin said. “History has taught us that where there is a country with great natural resources it has been regarded as one suitable for invasion. If it can be taken readily, New Zealand would undoubtedly be a very great prize for one of those countries which are to-day looking for outlets for their people and for a source of natural wealth.” Committee Suggested A suggestion that a committee comprising four members of the Government and two members of the Oppqsition might be set up to study defence questions was made by Mr Coates, who followed the Minister for Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. He paid a tribute to the Minister for his helpful and comprehensive survey. A number of people outside the House were wondering what action Parliament was likely to take on a number of complex questions, including that of defence. He wondered if it were possible for members to get closer together on the one question of defence. Anyone who had listened to the Minister’s speech or who had read the annual report of the general officer commanding the forces must feel a little disappointed at the results of the year’s work. The question was what constituted adequate defence, It .seemed to him that if a lead could be given by Parliament so much the better. The navy was the first line of defence, he thought. The Government had done the right thing so far as the navy was concerned, and ofie appreciated the adoption of a policy that had been an objective for some time past. Probably because this country was so far away from world affairs, many people thought they-were perfectly safe. New Zealand’s economic system relied on overseas markets, and in view of the fact that the Dominion's exports had to travel many waters, steps should be Taken to protect the trade routes as far as practicable. Mr Coates suggested that the second line of defence would be close co-operation between the navy and air arms in the protection of the country’s large harbours, and in the general defence of the coast. It seemed that co-operation with the' navy was essential in the general defence of the Dominion, but there could not be this co-operation unless the country had the machines and necessary equipment to go with them. The Minister for Defence had expressed the view that there were commercial capable of doing the job, but New Zealand did not possess that type of aeroplane, nor machines to carry out any effective co-operation with the navy. - Empire Plan Necessary * Mr W. J. Lyon (Govt, Waitematal also voiced the opinion that an Empire defence plan was necessary. If would be hopeless for New Zealand to try to defend itself without support'from the other countries in the Empire. Mr S. G. Holland (Nat., Christchurch North) advocated greater expenditure on aviation. He urged the development of closer ties between the British Empire and the United States in the interests of peace. - Voicing novel views. Dr. D. G. McMillan (Govt., Dunedin West) doubted the efficacy of the League of Nations as at present constituted, and said that the best contribution New Zealand could make to world peace would be to demonstrate the practicability of the socialistic order. Mr W. P. Endean (Nat., Parnell) supported compulsory military training. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 10.30 p.m.