ENROL AND BE READY

Evening Star, Issue 23273, 23 May 1939, Page 13

ENROL AND BE READY

Premier's Defence Statement

Home Defence Force of 16,000 Planned

ADDITIONAL SERVICES Men Between 20 and 55 Invited to Enrol

[Per United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, May 22.

“ I am speaking to-night in terms more solemn perhaps than any that I have hitherto used; but I wish to make it clear that no hew urgent crisis of which I am aware but you are not compels me to speak. “I give my personal assurance that though the Government of New Zealand is being kept fully informed by the British Government of what is going on in the world, I have no secret or confidential information that tells me of a state of emergency. “The international situation is bad,” Mr Savage said, “but I have no special reason for believing it to be any worse than it has been for some time. “I am one of those who refuse to believe that a general war is inevitable. I say ‘a general war’ deliberately, because none of us can shut his eyes to the fact that war on an extensive scale is at this very moment being waged and another has just concluded. From such conflicts as these flames may at any time leap into other countries, including our own. “Despite that danger, despite the frantic competition in armaments among countries not at war, despite the clashing of what are called the. ideologies of rival ambitions and nationalisms among the peoples of the world, despite rivalries for markets and territory, I still believe that it may be possible, even yet, to avert another world war. But the task of averting it will not be easy, nor will it be achieved in a day, or a month, or a year. I fear that for a long time to come a world war will remain an ever-present possibility. “It is with a sense of bitter disillusionment that I say these things,” the Prime Minister added. “ I was one who thought that the horrors of the Great War had taught the world a lesson that would not be forgotten, at least in our lifetime. I believed that in and through the League of Nations a new way of international life had been found. I am not ashamed of having believed that, nor am I ashamed to own the belief that tp the League idea mankind must and ultimately will return. “But, believing all that as I do, I am forced to observe that throughout the world power politics are in full blast once again with an intensity never known before. “It is idle for us to pretend that the world is other than it is. Let us in God’s name do all we can to restore the reign of sanity, good faith, and law; but let us realise that merely dreaming of a better world will not bring it to pass, nor does it offer us much prospect of surviving in the world as it is. Strength and vigilance are conditions of survival. “I am firmly of the opinion that if the peoples of the various nations had the settlement of the question, Peace or War, In their own hands there would be no war—now, or at any time,” said the Prime Minister. “ One thing clear to me is this: If the nations of the earth were to spend in the arts and crafts and the general living standards of their own people what they are spending to-day in preparation for war the main causg of war would disappear like mist before the morning sun. t “ Let us then add our humble voices to the multitude of human demands for justice as the only lasting foundation for peace. We should try to insist that a peace conference should be held before and not after another great war.” IF WAR COMES DOMINION NOT UNREADY “ While we should work with all might for the objective of peace,” Mr Savage said, “ we cannot afford to rely on that alone. We must be prepared if war should come. In this respect the Government has not been idle. It sought the advice of experts in both New Zealand and Great Britain and has been in constant close touch with the United Kingdom authorities.” Mentioning that New Zealand’s responsibilities towards the commonwealth extended beyond our own shores far into the Pacific, Mr Savage said that the three chiefs of staff had last year visited the islands to the north of New Zealand to study their strategic effect on the country’s defences. “ Shortly after taking office,” he said, “ the Government established a Council of Defence to deal with all matters of defence policy, and under this council we set up an organisation for national security. This organisation is useful for civil as well as for defence purposes. It has plans capable of use in dealing with disasters such as earthquakes or epidemics, but its main work has been in connection with preparing the country for a war-time emergency. “If such a disaster came, I can confidently say that New Zealand would not be paralysed because of any lack of preparedness. Care is being taken to ensure that the country should not lack essential supplies for the people or for the armed forces. If war broke out to-morrow a fairly efficient machine would immediately be brought into action.” Outlining a few of the advances made in the three services, Mr Savage said the two cruisers had been replaced by larger and more modern vessels, the naval base at Devonport had been extended in order to make the New Zealand squadron self-contained, the dockyard and depot facilities had been increased, and useful changes had been made in the organisation of the higher command. The territorial force had been built up in the past two years to over its full establishment at 9500 men. The artillery was now completely mechanised and the leeway was being made up in providing the latest mechanised infantry equipment. , It was in the Air Force that the greatest advances had been made. New military aerodromes had been established in both islands, and the training schools at Wigram and Hobsonville had been extended. There were active Territorial Air Force units in the larger centres, with an Air Force Civil Reserve, including 5000 artisans, prepared to help in the country’s defence. Next year when the programme was completed there would be not fewer than 180 aeroplanes, including 30 Vickers Wellington bombers,

FOUR GLASSES REQUIRED

implies for the welfare of the people; but I tell you that social security and an increasing standard of life without national security Is a dream that cannot be realised.

A NATIONAL REGISTER HOME FORGE OF 16.000 WELLINGTON, May 22, “In the present state of things,” Mr Savage said, “ elementary commonsense warns us to be ready at any time to defend ourselves with arms. Let no one imagine that if Britain were involved in a general war this country would or could stand aloof, enjoying undisturbed neutrality. Any attempt on our part to pursue such a policy would bring us not greater safety but greater danger. It would merely sever us from our kinsmen and friends without conciliating the aggressors. “We could not stand aside with arms folded while our brethren in the British Commonwealth were fighting for their lives. Any such belief would be a dream as idle as it is unworthy of us, “ We must prepare ourselves,” the Prime Minister said, “ one and all to be able at a moment’s notice to concentrate our energies on the business of the nation’s defence, of which the paramount- requirement will be the capacity in our men to take up the weapons of war and to use them skilfully, confidently, and effectively against any aggressor that may come against us. “ But to do this our men must be trained in the use of arms and in the varied movements and manoeuvres of war—there are many ways in which service can be given. That training cannot be given or gained in a day, least of all a day when the enemy is at the gate. “ The first call I wish to make is for volunteers to fill the gaps in the regular forces who are men responsible for training the territorial army and for its organisation, training and equipment. “ The second appeal is for our first line of land defence—a territorial army. We are raising the strength of the territorial force up to its peace strength. A territorial force of 16,000, and 6000 free citizens are required to bring the force up to its peace establishment. “ The mounted rifles and battalions drawn from country areas will be restored to full strength, whilst the other arms of the service will be given a higher peace establishment.

“In the work of training our young men we shall have enthusiastic and competent instructors. We have many able officers on the active list, and, in addition to them, we have thousands of returned soldiers whose experience will be available to us and who will be with us to a man.”

COURAGE AND STRENGTH DEMOCRACIES NOT DEFICIENT “IT CAN BE TRUSTED " WELLINGTON, May 22. “In some countries,” the Prime Minister said, “ there is a widespread belief that democracy lacks the strength and courage to defend itself, that it is too self-indulgent, too much divided by domestic differences, too apathetic, too sluggish, and too selfish to discipline itself for the sterner tasks of life. To all that I give the lie direct. “ I say with profound conviction that democracy can be trusted to do and to do freely and quickly what is necessary for its self-preservation. In times of danger—threatened as well as actual—the ranks of democracy close up and domestic differences, which in times of peace are as desirable as they are inevitable among free men, disappear for the duration of the common peril. “The defence of New Zealand is not a party matter: it is the duty of all. This country may have to be defended, and soon. It is supremely worth defending. It can be defended, and if attacked (as it may be) it is going to be defended. “I say again, therefore, to our manhood, Maori and pakeha alike, in factory, farm, shop, office and everywhere—'‘ Enrol and be ready.’ “ No man must be allowed to suffer hardship by giving up time for training whether in camp or out of it,” the Prime Minister said, “nor will the crafts of peace be neglected during the period of training in the art of war. In our camps men who need and wish it will receive training in the many and varied activities of the citizen at peace. The Government is thinking all the time in terms of the citizens —the citizens of to-morrow as well as of to-day. Its only purpose in urging you as it does urge you to fit yourselves for war is to ensure as far as it humanly can that War shall not destroy you. “ The Government wishes New Zealand to be so strong and to be known to be so strong that any would-be aggressor will realise that an attack upon us is not worth his While.”

“My next appeal is for 250 men for service in the special reserve. We have been training men in this category for two years. We are building up an efficient coast artillery organisation to man the coast defences and protect our main ports. “ The men in this category are, required at short notice in emergency and it will be necessary for them to carry out a longer period of training of five months, jrtion of which is vocational training to assist them when they return to civil occupation. A NATIONAL REGISTER. "Lastly, the Government has decided to accept offers for service from all able-bodied men between 20 and 53 years of age to register in the national militar reserve. “I have before me,” Mr Savage said, “ two enrolment cards—one issued by the Army Department under instruction from the Government and the other issued by the New Zealand Defence League (a private organisation) which can only cause confusion in the minds of those who wish to enrol. I appeal to the Defence League to withdraw its cards and support the Government scheme. “From those offering their services 5000 men—with previous military experience—will be selected as a reserve to the territorial units and would in a national emergency be called up in order to bring the peace establishment of the territorial army up to war strength. "I appeal to the men of this country," the Prime Minister said, “ to offer themselves forthwith while there is still time for training in the art of war. I ask all able-bodied men between 20 and 55 years of age to go to the nearest Post Office or Defence Office and fill in cards to receive this training when called upon. “This does not mean that the men will be separated from their families and occupations for long periods of time. Arrangements will be made to avoid that, and to see that young men are not deprived of their Saturday sporting activities.

NATIONAL PARTY’S STAND

CONSCRIPTION FAVOURED AUCKLAND. May 22. An announcement that the National Party had decided to support strongly universal military service for home defence was made by Mr J. Hargest, M.P. for Awama, when speaking at Matamata to-night. Mr Hargest said the decision had been made following a discussion at the recent caucus of the party. “ Universal military service for home defence will form part of our policy,” he said. “ Only by placing the obligation on all men can we obtain the required numbers, and it is the only democratic way. We all claim the right to share national privileges—we all have an equal responsibility to defend them. “Mr Savage has recently stated that' the soldier will not be the first to be conscripted—that he will conscript wealth first,” Mr Hargest said. “He knows as well as anyone that ih an emergency Parliament can do at one sitting anything it wishes with wealth arid property; but it cannot train men by Act of Parliament. That takes time, and to wait until the enemy arrives at the gates is suicidal. It would entail useless slaughter. In the event of war the National Party would immediately mobilise all the country’s resources —financial, material, and physical—in the defence of the Dominion. Nothing else would be sufficient.” Mr Hargest added that the most clamant need to-day, however, Was trained men. All the expenditure in the world on fortifications, aeroplanes, and other armaments would not compensate for the lack of men.

HOME DEFENCE ALONE. “ That there may be no room for misunderstanding, let me say very clearly that the training to which I am now summoning our physically fit men is training for home defence, —that is, the defence of New Zealand in New Zealand. It is a view to, repelling attacks against our own shores that I ask them to prepare themselves. I am not asking them to go to war but to be prepared if war comes to them. “ There is no better way in which we could help Great Britain than to be able to help ourselves and our peonle to enjoy a standard of life that is nowhere excelled, and perhaps nowhere else equalled. We hope not merely to maintain that standard but also to raise it steadily higher by increasing, of course, our national production, as I know we can. But invasion of our shores might shatter beyond repair all that our forbears and we ourselves have so laboriously built up. “ You know how near to my heart is social security, with all that it

VIEW OF DEFENCE LEAGUE PROMPT RESPONSE URGED WELLINGTON. May 22. “ I was very pleased indeed to hear the Prime Minister’s appeal over the air to-night to the people of New Zealand to enrol and prepare themselves for the defence of their country as a co-partner in the British Commonwealth of Nations," said Mr W. Perry, M.L.C., president of the New Zealand Defence League, in a statement this evening. “This, the New Zealand Defence League has always advocated, and also that defence must be placed above party politics, as Mr Savage emphasised to-night. “The Prime Minister appealed to the league to withdraw the enrolment card issued by some of its branches,” Mr Perry said, “ in order to avoid confusion with the enrolment cards which are being issued by the Government to-mprrow. The league has accordingly done so and as its president I urge the whole community to respond to the Prime Minister’s appeal.”