MUTUAL DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23094, 21 October 1938, Page 8

MUTUAL DEFENCE

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND NEXT WAR AT OUR FRONT BOOR [Pee Unites Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 21. The suggestion that a Defence Committee representative of the Governments of New Zealand and Australia should be formed so that complete cooperation might exist between the two countries on defence questions was made by Sir Charles Marr, a former Minister of Defence in Australia, and a present member of the House of Representatives, who arrived on the Awatea on a business visit. He said the interests of the two countries were undoubtedly identical. If New Zealand were attacked Australia would undoubtedly aid the Dominion, and similarly New _ Zealand would doubtless help Australia. Future war. he suggested, might not be a distant thing, but might be at tho front doors of the two countries. _ Certain events during the recent crisis had emphasised that. . He also suggested that the Ministers of the two countries should exchange visits more frequently for consideration of the wide variety of mutual interests. “ 1 would not be surprised to sea universal Territorial training introduced in Australia within six months,” he said.