DOMINION DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 56, 3 September 1936, Page 11

DOMINION DEFENCE

FORMATION OF LEAGUE

EDUCATING THE PEOPLE

A further step towards the establishment of the New Zealand Defence League upon a Dominion-wide basis was taken last evening when at a wellattended meeting of those'specially interested, it was decided to form a branch of the league in Wellington, and a strong provisional ■ committee was elected with power to add to its number. .. ■ ■ ' , . Those present included members of the New Zealand and Wellington Returned Soldiers' Associations, South African War Veterans' Association, the former National Defence League (which is remaining moribund for the present), the Navy League, .the New Zealanders' Association, the Red Cross, the . St. John Ambulance Association, and other bodies. ' - The Hon. W. Pe-rry, M.L.C., who was elected chairman, said that those con-, versant with the position viewed the, unprepared state of the British Empire with real concern. This position had been brought about largely by Great Britain pursuing a course of unilateral disarmament in the hope that other nations would follow,, suit, but they had not done so, and the result was that Britain and the British Empire were placed in a position even more perilous than in 1914. Britain was now very weak, navally and militarily, and so far as the air was concerned was working her factories at the fullest capacity to try to catch up to the strength of other nations. > Under these conditions it was essential that the rest of the Empire should do its part, and it was felt that New Zealand, as an outpost, should take every precaution. With this aim in view, steps had been .taken in Auckland, Wellington, and : Christchuroh to form the New Zealand Defence League, which should start as an entirely new body. Successful meetings were held in each of these centres last week, and now steps were being taken in Dunedin with the same object. It was proposed, after the establishment of local, • provincial, and Dominion councils, to adopt a definite platform and to conduct a Dominion-wide campaign which would have the effect of arousing the people of New Zealand to a proper sense of their responsibilities. The proposal' was that all measures should be taken to develop New Zealand's defences on the sea, in the air* and.on land, and thus to ensure that'New'Zealand would" be able to play its part in any struggle and retain the great privileges which were at present {'enjoyed.'■",■'•■■•■' ■ v' Mr. F. Milner stressed the critical situation that had arisen,'arid emphasised that the democratic States today represented only a small proportion of the world and were confronted With great military totalitarian.States whose aims were, certainly aggressive. He urged' that everything possible should be done to co-operate with \ America, and said that while it was impossible to state when the storm would break the present world situation was ominous to a degree. . On the motion of Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, seconded by Mr. W. H. Barnard, it was unanimously decided to form.a branch of the. New Zealand Defence League in Wellington,: and, the following; were elected as a provisional committee:— Hon. W. Perry,.' M.L.C.; Sir James Grose, Lieut.-Colonel.H. E. Avery, and Messrs. W. D. Haydbn, N. A. Grant, C. Mclntyre, W. W. Dutton, F, W. Ward, L""A. Hill, R. Darroch, E. S. Pilcher, E. E. Muir, D. A. Carty, J. I- Goldsmith, G. A. Haydon, J. Harper, S. ; S. Harrison, E. F. G. Sharp, W. H. Barnard J. J. Delahunt,Alf. Cowles, T. L. Ward, A. E. Gorton, G. R. Cowie, A. J. Nimmo, S. G. Cowles, C. R. McColl, K. G. Chamberlain, and A, J. Mack. Mr. A E. Gorton, assistant secretary of the N.Z.R.S.A., was elected hon. secretary pro tern. * , The membership fee was fixed at <JS 6d per annum, and it was^ resolved Jo enrol as many members as possible immediately arid to report to another meeting to be held pn Wednesday of next we«k. ' ; It was decided also to hold a public meeting at an early date, and later to hold a meeting of league members at which its officers and executive will be elected. . ' • f , " '"■'.■