GOOD WILL MISSION

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1935, Page 7

GOOD WILL MISSION

METHODISTS AND DEFENCE

A proposal that the Government should spend the money at present expended on defence on a good-will mission to other countries bordering the Pacific, was made to the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) by a deputation from the New Zealand Methodist Young Men's and Young Worn en's Bible Class Movement. The Minister rejected the proposal on the ground that it would be unwise to divert any of the money spent on defence at the present time, and stated that it was the duty of the Government to provide a reasonable amount of defence as a national insurance. The deputation was introduced by Mr. H. Atmore (Independent, Nelson), Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent, Eden) also being present. The speakers for the deputation.were Messrs. E. L. Howe, P. S. Boyer, and Miss Lorna Hodder.

The deputation suggested that as an alternative to the present expenditure on defence the Government should consider chartering a ship to be sent with representatives of all sections of the community to the countries bordering the Pacific to establish a free interchange of ideas and establish friendly relations; that the present military organisation in New Zealand should be used for the purpose of instructing the youth of the country in physical, educational and hygienic training; the establishment of a good-will bureau under the control of the Minister of Defence, whose title should be changed to. the Minister of Peace, Co-operation, or Good Will; and provide more definite general peace education in the schools. Mr. Cobbe said that the good-will ship idea'could be ruled out, as the Government had not got the money and he doubted if the suggestion would be favoured by the majority of^ the people of the Dominion. A member of the deputation: You are spending more on defence. . The Government had no desire for war, the Minister said, but New Zealand was an outpost of the Empire, particularly vulnerable, , to: attack by raiders, and the Government had to provide adequate defence as a form of national insurance just as the private individual had to insure, against fire. The European situation showed that there was a possibility of an upheaval there, and other nations might take advantage of such an upheaval if it occurred. "We must strain every nerve to promote peace," he said, "but at the same time we must 'take reasonable precautions."