DEFENCE MEASURES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 8

DEFENCE MEASURES

NECESSARY NOW

IMPROVING THE COUNTRY

Discussing the need for adequate defence measures because of the present disturbed state of international relations, the Hon. F. E. Lark (Auckland), when moving the Address in Reply in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, said that the development of New Zealand was the best means of defence that could be adopted. As long as a country was worth fighting for, he said, the men of that country would defend it.

Mr. Lark referred to the. disturbed state of the world and the value of the solidarity of the British Empire. Whether they liked it or not, he said, the future of the Dominion was wrapped up in the future of the Empire, and as long as the present disturbed state o£ international affairs continued, New Zealand must do her share in defence. The Government had done good work already, but many persons might wonder why armaments were necessary. They could all remember what the last war had cost, but the courageous had to face facts as they were. New, Zealand was a small country that stood high in social advancement, and he considered there I were ways to protect that' advancement without recourse to arms. Why should la dictator or any single person have the right to start a war? Before any troops were sent overseas the will of the people should be known. If those who profited by war desired war they should be prepared to make all the sacrifice necessary to keep the war going. If the nations would take the will of the people there would be less war and more common sense everywhere. v NO PROFIT OUT OF WAR. Under existing circumstances it was necessary to provide lor defence in New Zealand, but it was the bounden duty of the country to see that if there was war no profit should be made out of it. (Hear, hear.) There were persons and concerns that made profits out of wars, and those profits should at least go to the men who had to fight. The mothers of. the young men who had to fight should also have a say. Thousands of young men in New Zealand and older men, too, would rally to/the defence of a country that was worth defending, Mr. Lark said, and he believed the time was fast approaching when the people would own the country and be prepared to defend it with their lives. The more progressive a country was the better its defence would be, because a good Government created something worth fighting for. Mr. Lark said that if members of the Council expected him to deliver a tirade against the past Administration they would be disappointed. He did not consider that a discussion on past mistakes was of any use; what was needed was a plan for progress in the future. He discussed the legislative progress of the Government and expressed faith in the social advancement of New Zealand.