TO RESIST INVADER

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 9, 10 July 1940, Page 13

TO RESIST INVADER

RURAL MILITIA IDEA

ADVOCACY CONTINUED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 9,

Dissatisfaction with the reply by the Prime Minister to a suggestion from the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union for the raising of a rural militia on the lines of the old Boer commando, was expresesd tonight by the vicepresident, Mr. A. C. A. Sexton.

The Prime Minister's letter stated that plans were in existence for adequate opposition to any possible attack, according to the advice of their expert military advisers. There were many reasons which made impracticable the raising, training, and administration of such a force as suggested. The situation was given constant consideration and all practical steps were being taken to meet any changes in the situation.

Mr. Sexton said that the union was most dissatisfied with defence preparations in New Zealand and there was nothing in the Prime Minister's reply to allay its anxiety. The present scale of preparations was not nearly sufficient, and at best it would take a long time to train a force along the present lines. Union members were not impressed with talk about expert advice, as up to the present all Governments and most of the experts had been wrong. There was nothing impracticable in the Farmers' Union raising, training, and administering a force on commando lines if it could have the aid of a competent staff of officers and information regarding training.

It was not claimed that the forceso raised would be of the calibre of a highly-trained army, but it would contain a large number of men who had seen hard fighting, and, if the Government would provide reasonable arms, it would be a very formidable force for an invader to overcome in the initial stages of landing. The union was very gratified with the response of members to the suggestion and had no intention of allowing the matter to rest where it was.