“BE PREPARED.’

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1912, Page 5

“BE PREPARED.’

•— REASONS FOR THE DEFENCE SCHEME.

MR. MACKENZIE SPEAKS OUT

[BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THE STAR.]

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

In the course of a speech at the Chamber of Commerce welcome yesterday’, the new High Commissioner, in reply to a remark by Mr Marriner in regard to the circulation of literature giving a false impression of the effect of the military training scheme in New Zealand, said that literature had been sent to him describing a condition that did not exist. Some of the references quoted the remarks of a gentleman who was once a member of the House of Representatives. Defence was a question upon which there must be no nonsense. New Zealand had to be peopled in order to make the country successful commercially’ and industrial!}’. was necessary also that a sufficient number of men should be trained to defend the country, if defence was needed. New Zealanders were living largely in a fool’s paradise. They had enjoyed peace so long that they had forgotten that there was such a thing as war. In Australia, close by, there was a vast unpopulated area v.'hich was a menace to the Empire. Australia, as well as New Zealand, must be peopled to a greater extent than they were at present. He realised that some men, notably Quakers, opposed military training on conscientious grounds; but there were others who had not the same Excuse. If these people really objected to military training, for God’s sake let them go out of the country. Ninety-nine out of every hundred persons realised that the compulsory scheme was in the right direction. It showed that there was a very healthy public opinion in the country. The question of defence must be above party politics, whatever Government was in office. It was a critical position. He had five sons in New Zealand. He would be glad to see them all training. He would willingly pay taxes imposed for the scheme, and, if necessary, he would take a rifle on his shoulder and come out for the defence of the country. God bad given New Zealanders a lovely land. They might know the reverse side of the picture of life if action was taken by an aggressive nation at a time when the Imperial Government was not able to help the Colonial possessions. Mr Fisher said that it might be possible to request influential British newspapers to refer statements in regard to the Dominion’s defence to the High Commissioner before publishing them. Mr Mackenzie said that he thought that some course ought to be taken, and he would make a note of the suggestion.