NEW ZEALAND AND THE CRISIS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND AND THE CRISIS

PRIME MINISTER’S INFORMATION

“IN ACCORD WITH NEWS

PUBLISHED”

PLANS OF

COUNCIL OF

DEFENCE READY

(PSESS ASSOCIATION TELXGRAiI-)

DUNEDIN, September 28. A denial that he had received today a message of sensational impoitance concerning the international situation was given by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview to-rught. Mr Savage said that the information he had received from Europe was very much in accord with that published in the newspapers, and he was not in a position to make any fresh announcement on the position. The Prime Minister refused to discuss what measures might be taken in New Zealand in the event of war. The Council of Defence had, been considering the position all along, and its plans were ready. He was not prepared to discuss what might happen in certain eventualities, but would wait until those eventualities ' occurred before announcing any action that might be Mr Savage declined to say whether or not the election would be proceeded with in the event of war breaking out, although he gave the impression that preparations for the election had now gone so far that there would be no point in putting them off. Hopes for peace were not yet completely exhausted, he said, and there was no doubt that everyone would wish that war might yet be averted. FULL COOPERATION OFFERED

RESOLUTION OF RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

[THE PRESS Special Service.!

WELLINGTON, September 28.

The following letter was forwarded to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) to-day by the headquarters of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association: “At a meeting of the Dominion executive committee of this association held last evening, after due consideration of the troubled state of affairs in Europe, the following resolution was unanimously adopted for forwarding to you:— “ ‘That the Dominion executive committee offer the Government the fullest co-operation of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association should a national emergency arise in connexion with the European situation.’ ”

; The following resolution was car- ; ried at a meeting of the executive committee of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association held last night: * _ . “That the Wellington Returned : Soldiers’ Association desires the New ' Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association to inform the' authorities of its fullest co-operation in any project for the defence of the country, and 1 desires 'to be advised of any ■way in which it could assist the Government at this time.” Most ,of the suburban auxiliary committees of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association’ have already sponsored the formation of platoons, and 60 returned soldiers for searchlight duty at Fort Dorset have been enrolled. DAY OF PRAYER IN CHRISTCHURCH SERVICES IN CATHEDRA*/ TO-MORROW , In view of the present crisis, the Anglican clergy of Christchurch are organising a day of prayer in the Cathedral to-morrow, beginning with the celebration of Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m. and concluding at 5.45 p.m., after choral evensong. “I hope this may give an opportunity for Christians of various communions to seek the will of God for our country and other countries, and to share, through prayer, the burden of decision which bears so heavily on rulers and leaders at the present time,” said Bishop West-Watson last evening. The Bishop added that brief 10minute services of intercession would be conducted at 12.5 p.m. and 1:5 p.m. each week day in the Cathedral from yesterday until further notice. He hoped these times would prove convenient for those whose lunch hour begins at 12 noon or 1 p.m. _____________