ENGLAND ON TOP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 12

ENGLAND ON TOP

DESIRE FOR PEACE

ATTITUDE IN CRISIS

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S EFFORTS

"If anyone wants to tear England to pieces they will meet with disaster," declared Viscount Nuffield when replying to his toast at the dinner given in his honour by Sir Charles Norwood last night. He paid a tribute to the efforts of Britain's Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, to preserve peace, and emphasised the fact that Britain was on top and was going to remain on top.

In the course of his remarks at a later stage, the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) touched on the question of defence, and pointed out that the Dominion's safety lay in England's safety. "Coming as I do from the other side of the world, where not so long ago a crisis prevailed, I would like to try and give a little comfort to people so far away," said Lord Nuffield. "The reason is that I do not think that on many occasions you get the right information at this distance. In the time of the crisis we were all very worried, but not afraid. I can say here tonight, that the Army and Navy had never been in better condition in the history of England. We were certainly short in the air, but had it been necessary to fight I think other people would have found that we had more than they expected. Mr, Chamberlain's great work I am sure the world will never f rget. God only knows, we do not want another Great War over again. It would not be only a Great War —it would be a world war, which we hope will never happen. J PREVENTING DISASTER. j "It is to me almost unbelievable that in this age anyone should want to bring about such a disaster to the world, and I feel sure that if it is within the power of England—and Mr. Chamberlain has done his best and is still doing it to obviate that great disaster to mankind —it will not occur. Such a work cannot be overlooked. I feel sure that after what he has done, it is impossible for any other country to bring about war without a reason. 1 can only hope that the countries concerned will become a little more sane." Lord Nuffield said that he was responsible for putting up one of the biggest aircraft factories in the world. Sir Kingsley Wood had asked him to do this, and he could assure them that no time had been wasted and nothing left undont to build the factory and ! produce planes in the shortest possible time. "I will not say any more on that subject," he said. "There are naturally things I could say, but many things are better left unsaid. I hope that the next time I have the pleasure of visiting this country we shall find the world in a better state than it has been in the last twelve months. "It may interest you t& know that even through the crisis England was very busy, and I need hardly say that I should not have left England had I thought there was going to he a war. I would have stayed behind to do all I could to help the British Empire. The British Empire has been on top, is on top. and is still going to be on top, and if there is anyone who wants to tear it to pieces I can only say they will meet with disaster. "During that time, millions of lives will be lost again, and therefore I hope that we shall see reason, that the whole world will see reason in the future, and obviate such a catastrophe." DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND. Replying to the toast of "Parliament," which was proposed by the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., Mr. Nash touched on the question of defence. He said that Parliament was something they should fight to own There were a lot of rash words used regarding democracies and dictators, but it was good that inside the English-speaking world we had a form of Government under which every man and woman could appeal to the people to accept their policy and send them to make good laws. It was good also to belong to the British Commonwealth of .Nations. They might have made mistakes in the past, but they had a record of credits on the other side that stood for the benefit not only of the English-speaking world but the world at large. "If we talk about defence, it is good to remember that our defence lies in England," said Mr. Nash. "If disaster comes there, then we are lost. I do not say that idly. I hope that God in His wisdom will take us away from the possibilities of war that Lord Nuffield has mentioned. But if there is trouble, then our trouble will be in England. We cannot avoid it and we cannot forget that England is the defending line for New Zealand." Mr. Nash said that because of world circumstances the New Zealand Government's defence expenditure was four times what it was four years ago, and it was still, comparatively speaking, not enough, if they were to do all the things that must be done. The evidence of the last three years suggested that something had to be done, and the present. Government would do what was necessary to defend this country.