Evening post WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1939. OUR PART IN DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 8

Evening post WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1939. OUR PART IN DEFENCE

Everybody will agree with one statement made by the Prime Minister at the luncheon to delegates to the Pacific Defence Conference:

It is too late when the balloon goes up, to use a popular phrase, to think about what you are going to do. All ought to know what part they have to play in defence of the system they and earlier generations have helped to build.

In crises such as that through which the world is passing, when so much depends upon the uncontrolled and unpredictable impulses of dictators, it is impossible to say with certainty when our defensive power will be put to the test. We may still hope that the test of force will be avoided, but, on Mr. Savage's own statements, the possibility is so near that preparation, and intensive preparation, cannot be delayed, if it is not to be "too late when the balloon goes up." The day might come, Mr. Savage said, sooner than we thought, when without talking of going to war, war might come to us. Because of this possibility and because we do not dare to count upon the time factor being in our favour, we must hasten to make the best use we can of the time that remains.

The Pacific Defence Conference assumes tremendous importance when considered in this light. It is the essential preparation for telling the people what they should do. The Prime Minister's speech yesterday was a call to service, and an argujment from a man who abhors national conflict or preparation for that j conflict. It will not be of our own seeking, but, as Mr. Savage said, "war may come to us." With the argument we can wholeheartedly agree. No matter how strongly it may be felt that differences should be discussed before war, instead of after, the option of discussion is lost if an aggressor refuses to take it. Democracy must then be ready to defend itself. It is the democratic right to govern ourselves that is challenged and with it the freedom of the people living under democracy. "I do not claim that the present system is perfect," said Mr. Savage, "but the perfection or amendment of it is with us and not with some individual. It seems to me that the people as a whole should play their part." But what part? Mr. Savage did not say explicitly. He declared that there would be a part for every man up to 50 years of age. He hoped that in the near future they would be asking every man up to 50 years to do what he himself would do, and so make every man feel he was defending something that was worth while.

At the moment the call may not be clear to everyone who wishes to answer. Like Mr. Semple's speech, it is a call to service, but with no statement of where, when, or how. The Pacific Defence Conference may help to correct that; but as AirMarshal Sir Arthur Longmore pointed out, the final decision as to whether! the conference was a success or not must depend on .the implementation of the measures that it recommended. This will not rest wholly with us. As Colonel Sturdee said, the main object of the conference is to get the maximum co-operation, and that implies co-ordination not only in the services, but also in munitions and general supplies. We can depend, however, upon the United Kingdom and Australia to go as far as possible in that co-operation, and the further and quicker we may go ourselves the more claim have we to their full coi operation. We cannot ask that they should go further to compensate for our own tardy advance. We must be ready to keep pace, and already their advance is far ahead of ours. What can we do, and do quickly, to bring ourselves into line, so that we may be a help and not a drag upon our

partners?

Until the Defence Conference completes its work this question cannot be fully answered. The public cannot respond to a service call unless the service is stated. Even a register of national service cannot be compiled unless the Government is ready to direct it. We trust that Mr. Savage's statement means at least that the compilation of such a register will be speedily begun. But in the meantime there is something that can be done. Within the scope of the present Territorial organisa-

tion there is room for more men. The action of the Star Boating Club, when about forty members volunteered as a body, is an example of what may be done to increase quickly and efficiently our enlisted man power. The general public also can do a great deal, even where they have not yet the opportunity of actual service or even registration, by strengthening the hands of the National Defence League in its cam-

paign to rouse public consciousness to the need of the time. The league has heen holding meetings throughout the country, to point out the pressing need for adequate defence and to prepare the people for cooperation with the Government in making the urgent provision called for. Tonight a meeting will be held in the Town Hall in Wellington. By attendance at this meeting the public will learn How necessary it is that defensive preparations should be hastened, and they can also convey to the Government in the most impressive way their realisation of the crisis and their readiness to respond at once when the call for service is made.