COMPULSION THE AIM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 4, 5 July 1939, Page 19

COMPULSION THE AIM

VIEWS OF COMMERCE

CO-OPERATION WITH DEFENCE LEAGUE

Acknowledgement of a motion passed by the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at its last meeting in support of compulsory military traihing and suggesting that interested bodies should approach the Government on the subject, was received by the chamber last evening from the New Zealand Defence League, which intimated that the matter would be discussed at its next meeting. During the brief discussion which followed members reiterated their belief in a compulsory defence scheme, and there was a denial that the aspirations of the Defence League were of a political nature.

Mr. R. H. Nimmo* said he was a strong advocate of compulsory military training for many reasons If an emergency arose in New Zealand under present conditions it would simply mean that the young manhood of New Zealand would be at a tremendous disadvantage if they were pitted against the youth oi totalitarian States. During a visit to Gefmany he had been greatly impressed by the physical condition of the youth of that country. The position was very serious and he hoped that the chamber would give its full support to the New Zealand Defence League. At the same time nothing should be done to hinder the progress of the Government's defence plans.

Mr. G. D. Stewart said that a lead should be taken by the chamber in organising a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister. Unfortunately, the Defence League had been turned into something political; it tiad been stated at the last Labour conference that the Defence League was political. The chamber should organise » representative delegation of employers to wait on the Government and put forward the view that compulsory military training was essential He felt that the deputation would have more chance of being successful than if it came from the Defence League! LEAGUE NOT POLITICAL.

"I am a vice-president of the. Wellington branch of the Defence League." said Mr. M. F. Luckie, "and 1 say that the league, definitely and finally, was never intended to be political, nor has any statement made by responsible or irresponsible members of a political party any bearing on the position at all. The idea of this chamber at our last meeting was that we should be associated with the Defence League. I communicated with the Hon. W. Perry, and the indication he gave was that the Defence League would be willing to move as soon as a suitable occasion arose. I think we might take the matter up again with the DefenceLeague. lam as strongly convinced as ever that there should be no relaxation in our efforts to secure the reenactment of the Compulsory Military Training Act, which was repealed not by this Government but by its predecessors." 1