DEFENCE POLICY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 204, 26 May 1938, Page 13

DEFENCE POLICY

Farmers Urge Vigorous

Action

CONFERENCE DEBATE

Universal Military Training

A vigorous policy of national defence and the introduction of universal military training were urged on the Government by the interprovincial conference Of the New Zealand Farmers' Union at Wellington yesterday when remits on the question were discussed. The adoption of the following remit ■was moved by Mr. D. Sutherland (Foretell) on behalf of his branch: — “That the attention of the Government be drawn to:

(a) The serious international situation and to the very small vote, in comparison with other votes, given to defence; and urges the Government to adopt a vigorous policy of national defence, this policy to embody close cooperation with Great Britain, Australia and other Dominions to establish and maintain an adequate navy in the Wes ern Pacific.

(b) The advisability of continuing a complete dependence on oil for naval fuel as is at present the case, and that the Government be urged to establish the internal defence of New Zealand upon a truly national scale by the introduction of universal military training. together with ample supplies of arms irnd other military equipment and aircraft.”

The international situation to-day wag so serious that it was engaging everybody’s attention, Mr. Sutherland said. The Government would say that it was working in close co-operation with every' other part of the Empire, but that close co-operation had to be measured by the amount of money New Zealand was spending. The Empire was essentially an Empire of the sea; therefore, a strong Navy was essential to national interests. Mr. Sutherland contended that New Zealand’s territorial defences were so small and meagre that they really amounted to a miserable farce.

Extra Taxation Question.

Mr. J. C. Bolton (Woodville), seconding the motion, said that the carrying out of the wishes of the conference as expressed in the remit would mean extra taxation. In England the taxation for defence was enormous, but the people were paying cheerfully because it was a question of absolute necessity. Unless military training were universal the country would get nowhere, said Mr. W. Morrison (Wanganui). They had been told that the last war was a war to end war. In the meantime all the other countries had been rearming. To-day they had to make provision for the defence of the country as far as possible, and that could be done by universal training only. Referring to the question of subsidising British shipping in the Pacific, Mr A. Ramsden (Woodville) said that per sonally he was not in favour of sub eidies, but to-day the matter was an Empire one. Other countries were subsidising shipping to run British shipping off the ocean. Mr. A. L. Brown (Eeildiug) said that when one put on a uniform he was laughed at. There was no support from the public. Mr. J. Andrew (Masterton) said that If one looked back into history it would be found that any nation that was not prepared to fight sooner or later went out of existence, and that was the position to-day. The remit meant added taxation, and before the conference could subscribeto that view it had to acknowledge that the spread of taxation was unbalanced, said Mr. G. J. Wild (Manawatu). He suggested that the remit should be worded to bar further taxation. “As an old soldier I would like to asa how many men in this room know anything about defence,” said Mr. E. W. Cowdrey (Halcombe). The Prime Minister had said that New Zealand was working in conjunction with the Home authorities and was doing everything the Dominion was being asked to do. The subject was more complicated than delegates realised.

The Cause of War.

Mr. A. J. Denney (Greytown) said it would be foolish for farmers to give advice on matters of defence. They must get down to the cause of war — the profit made by the chain of armament firms linked throughout the world. The chairman, Mr. J. Livingston, said the question was one that did concern the farmer, even if they had to have further taxation. When England wa's fully armed and in command of the seas there was peace in the world. Mr. L. T. Daniell (Masterton) said that something was happening “under the cloak” in international affairs. There was no use in being unprepared. The remit was carried, and it was also decided to urge that annual territorial camps be held between May 1 and June 30.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

Two Colonels Desire To Add Nothing To Manifesto

Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, May 25.

No reply to the statement issued by the Minister of Defence, Don. F. Jones, was made to-day by either Colonel C. It. Spragg or Colonel N. L. Macky, the two Auckland officers who were among the four senior officers responsible for the recent manifesto on the state of the Territorial Force. Colonels Spragg and Macky said the officers concerned had issued their manifesto with a full sense of responsibility, and had nothing further to add.