The Guardian Printed at Leeston, centerbury, New Zealand, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1939 FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1939 Defence of New Zealand

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 25, 31 March 1939, Page 4

The Guardian Printed at Leeston, centerbury, New Zealand, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1939

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1939 Defence of New Zealand

"There is no time to be lost. . . . We cannot afford to procrastinate or merely tinker about with defence." These were the words used by the Hon. W. E. Barnard, a responsible member of the Government Party in a recent address, when he endeavoured to stimulate public interest in defence matters. Since then events have happened in Europe which have increased international tension and intensified the ' warning already given by Mr Barnard and other competent observers in "this Dominion. Any New Zealander who is more than a casual reader of the newspapers and who has the mentality to look beyond the common and frivolous things of life, must be seriously disturbed at the alarming portents in Europe and elsewhere and the grave danger which exists of the nations of the world being plunged into war. There was a very narrow escape in September, but next time the world may not be so fortunate. Tucked away in an isolated corner of the Pacific and sheltering behind the strong arm of the British Navy, the average New Zealander may think that he is secure and can be a more or less interested spectator at a distance of world events. If any such ideas are held, they should be got rid of as being delusions and snares and only tending to build up a fool's paradise. In any war in which Great Britain is engaged, New Zealand and the rest, of the Empire will also be involved and Great Britain's opponents will be New Zealand's enemies. The Prime Minister has rightly stated this to be so, a loyal declaration in which he is supported by the people of this country, but he has more than once hinted at the possibilities of New Zealand being isolated and having to depend on its own resources. Once the protecting arm of the British Navy is withdrawn, even temporarily, this country will be a tempting prey to any hostile Power with adequate sea force, and New Zealand will have to depend on its own strength to maintain its own defence. In war anything is possible and it is adopting only a wise precaution to be prepared for any emergency. Should even the most drastic come New Zealanders will fight bravely to the last and will not be easily vanquished, but, and here is the point we wish 'to emphasise, the more complete the preparations and the better ■ trained the people are to defend themselves, the more effective will become the resistance and the less chance of success for such a hostile enterprise. We are assured by the Government that it has plans prepared for any emergency and that it is hastening on defence preparations. We have no complaint with what has already been done and would like to give the Government credit for its work in expanding the air force and strengthening the other arms. We have been told that the air arm is the Dominion's first line of defence and that its job is to stop, five hundred miles offshore, any hostile force attempting an invasion. But, the air force is not the only defence line and what is to happen if the attacking force is not stopped. (Without reflecting on the i efficiency of the personnel of the air arm, it is a contingency which might happen. In- the final resort defence will rest with the land-forces and it is here that adequate preparations are not being made. Of the man power of this country, only a very small proportion is being trained in the use-of arms. In an emergency all able-bodied

men would be called upon, but there will be no time then to train them properly. To put untrained or semi-trained men in the field against trained soldiers is to court disaster, no matter how bravely they may fight. Far better it would be now, in times of peace, to train all men to defend their country, rather than allow this to devolve upon those who are now in the territorial forces, or who have just been posted to the reserves. It is not right that they alone should have to give the time and make the sacrifices such training involves while others, careless or not realising the grave issues that are at stake, take the easy road. Then tod, there should be some form of organisation for national service, on the lines laid down in Great Britain. The people should be told what they^are to do in certain emergencies and be trained in it. No sensible community leaves the organisation and training of a fire brigade until a fire occurs, nor should a country start to organise for its defence when the enemy is on its way to the attack. The people have been assured by speakers on behalf of the Government that as much as is possible is being done at present, but nevertheless, there is a large and growing body of public opinion which considers that little or no progress is being made in the directions indicated. A well-armed and trained nation is the best possible means of defence and the existence of such in this country will cause any hostile power to think twice Before attempting an attack.