R.S.A. AND WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 126, 30 May 1935, Page 4

R.S.A. AND WAR

VIEWS EXPRESSED

NO FINALITY REACHED

DEFENCE DISCUSSED

Whether or not more should be done to establish a stronger defence force in New Zealand was discussed at the annual meeting of the Wellington Re turned Soldiers' Association last evening, but finality was not reached, the adjournment of the meeting being carried shortly after 11 o'clock. A motion and an- amendment were brought forward but neither reached the voting stage. The matter was introduced by the president (Lieutenant-Colonel A. Cowles, V.D.), who advocated more military training as a means of preventing aggression by foreign nations. "We rightly perpetuate the memory of our dead at Karori in^tetone, but that is not enough," Colonel Cowles said. "They, and the 17,000 men who lie under foreign skies, died for a great principle—that the rich heritage of the past should be handed down, further enriched, to succeeding generations of Britons, under whatever sky they may live. Are we doing much to ensure the safety of that heritage? We are not, and it is time that we, as an association, gave the matter of defence serious thought. We do. not align ourselves with scaremongers and sabre-rattlers. We, as returned soldiers, have a pre-eminent right to say something about the defence of our country—we are competent to say something about war. I think I can say that no sane returned soldier wants to see war, and if he is a religious man he prays night and morning for peace; he encourages every practical effort made to ensure peace. WAR MORE THAN A CURSE. "On the other hand, we do not align ourselves with those whose knowledge of war was gained in a cinema or by other indirect means, and who tell us that no good comes of war, that it settles nothing, that it causes nothing but misery and ruin and that, therefore, we shall refuse to fight in any circumstances whatever. War is more than a curse, it is more than a tragedy, it is a calamity of the greatest intensity; second only to the conquered, the victor suffers greatly and acutely. But some good does arise—the great moral and spiritual forces stirring whole nations have their roots in war. War does settle something. We have, at least for one generation, / preserved freedom for our children. With all our troubles, not even the 'most disgruntled would wish for the domination of Herr Hitler and the Kultur that he represents. War does cause misery and ruin, tears and groans; but these are nothing compared with the ruin of a civilisation under the iron heel of a relentless invader. "Therefore I say that every man in the country who. is fit 'to bear arms should be trained in military arts. Our military strength should be organised and ready to act. An adequate staff should be available and.munitions of all kinds in store. Every means should be taken to eliminate physical unfitness. It is the duty of every one of us that loves his country to take his place in the defence system. How this is to be done trenches on the political field, and that at present is outside our' scope., But we should bring: before the. public the urgent need of building Up a defence' force that would;i-adeqf;iately • protect all that we hold dear." THE PRESIDENTS MOTION. Colonel Cowles later moved:~ That this meeting views with deep concern the unsettled state of Europe and, having in mind .the calamitous results of war, urge the Government to make adequate provision for defence, in onfcr to, safe- . guard liberty and preserve the Empire. . , ■' : .. The motion was seconded, but a member rose and claimed that it was out of order as it was a: political matter. The point of order, was not allowed, several members expressing the opinion that the question was above politics. - ■ .. ■ Mr. C. O. Bell said he did not claim that the question was political but he considered it was a policy matter and could only be dealt with .by the N.Z. R.S.A., conference. The Hon. W. Perry,-M.L.C., said-that the Dominion executive had ruled that any association could discuss the question of defence. AMENDMENT MOVED. Mr. H. McCormick moved as an amendment that the association was not prepared to abandon reasonable means of national defence, but welcomed wholeheartedly the efforts of the League of Nations to get the ma-' tions of the world to abandon war as a means,of settling international disputes. ■ He said^ he considered the motion put the wrong emphasis on the views held by returned soldiers, and advocated the prevention of wars through the League of Nations as opposed to the piling up of armaments. The amendment was seconded; ..Mr. Perry said there" was nothing an either the motion or the amendment that returned soldiers could not support They should all be^in favour of supporting the Ljeague of Nations,but they could not dot,that unless they had the means of keeping the covenant of the League, which was that the signatories should be prepared to go to the assistance of a signatory attacked. There was nothing incompatible in the meeting passing both the motion and the amendment. He suggested that Mr. McConnick should agree to both being put to the meeting as motions. Mr. McCormick refused to agree to this course and ; after some further argument. a member moved the adjournment of the meeting and his motion was carried.