NATIONAL DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 69, 18 September 1936, Page 8

NATIONAL DEFENCE

(To the Editor.) Sir,—lt is gratifying to read of the initial success of the New Zealand Defence League. Irrespective of the perplexing unrest among nations and the necessity of strengthening our means of defence it is within the influence of the league to bestow a great national service on the youth of this Dominion. Every physically fit youth should be compelled to serve with a unit of our defence forces and so discharge a duty he owes to his country, and himself. There is no more pitiable growth of our modern life than the undisciplined youth. Increased leisure is by no means a blessing unless profitably put to use in military training and clean sport. Unless the youth of any nation is disciplined the tendency is to travel a road full of twists and turns. To face facts and realities, what are the causes of increase in juvenile crime in this Dominion? Drink and gambling (one naturally brackets them) and careless parents who permit undisciplined sons to keep late hours and mingle with bad companions. Now these factors are tangible and any youth can grapple with them—he need not cultivate a taste for drink, he need not gamble, and he need not hang about the streets. National efficiency in defence cannot be achieved by indifference to the trend of world affairs by building fairy castles in the extremely uncertain future. Such castles are dreams and nothing more, and dissipate in the light, of ■ what' is happening in a mad world today. Military service is good for youth and helps to mould his character along the right, lines. It brings all classes together and the esprit de corps that obtains enables a young man to benefit from an influence he could not otherwise gam. For too long a period have we remained blind to the dangers confronting this sparsely-populated Dominion. Our inadequate defences leave the door wide open to any who care to enter.—l am, etc., NEW ZEALANDEH.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The address given by the Hon. W. Perry, on behalf of the newlyformed Defence League must fill all parents with some misgiving, especially that portion of the address where he predicts that New Zealand troops will be fighting in Palestine. Such statements are mischievous in the extreme. On what grounds does Mr. Perry virtually promise that New Zealand will send troops out of this country at all? When the Defence League was formed there was some comment on the likelihood of its turning out to be a militaristic body? and the publication of the names of the committee goes a long way to confirm this suggestion, the great majority being ex-offlcers in the Army. The Government had already laid down its programme for defence, and it would seem that the Defence League is a semi-political body whose one aim will be to bring pressure on the existing Government and embarrass it to the utmost. The aim of New Zealand should be to maintain an adequate defence of this country, not to create propaganda favouring sending troops fo a foreign country. It is most unlikely that the people of New Zealand will favour sending their sons out of New Zealand to fight elsewhere. Canada, South Africa, and Australia have already indicated that they will' not be concerned in

European wars unless the people first have an opportunity of deciding the matter. The Defence League will receive little support if it suggests the sending of New Zealand troops to fight overseas. The League which New Zealanders should support is the League of Nations Union, and the increase of membership and opening of new branches is an indication that the people are becoming aware where their only hope lies. I notice that the address was given to the Wellington Rotary Club, a branch of an international organisation whose whole weight has always been on the side of peace, and a solid supporter of-the League of Nations as the main hope of the world. An address having as its main feature the increasing of the armaments of a country does not appear to be in keeping with the sixth object of Rotary, which reads:—"The advancement of understanding, good will, and international peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service." .- If the Rotary Club were a national institution then the address could well harmonise with its ideals, but being an international organisation, there must be a distinct conflict between the ideals of the Defence League and the sixth object of Rotary as stated. —I am, etc. _ „ ANTI-WAR. (To the Editor.? Sir,—lt was with much pleasure I read of the New Zealand Defence League meeting presided over by the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C. The idea of supporting the present Government policy which is non-compulsory at present has much to commend it, but I would like to suggest that in the event of some form of voluntary defence system being approved in this country, those men who volunteer for service should receive a reasonable renumeration for their services. Failing this, why not form a voluntary standing army at a decent rate of pay? This would undoubtedly assist in reducing the number of unemployed in New Zealand .considerably, and also lessen the fears inherent in most people when war or fear of war is predominant.—l am, etc.; ACTIVE SERVICE.