Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, MAY 20th., 1938. NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1938, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, MAY 20th., 1938. NATIONAL DEFENCE.

“pOD Defend New Zealand,” sins most of the country’s young men, —and leave it. at that. The state of unpreparedness against attack is not denied, but i belief in the possibility of such I aggression is not widespread, and I in any case, there is a, reluctance i to undergo drill and discipline. No : question of party politics should be permitted to enter where national defence is concerned. Should a grave crisis arrive, there is little doubt that Labour and Nationalists would prove equally ’

patriotic. It must, however, be ad-

mitted that Labour is largely responsible for the dwindling in military training, its fear of “militarism” being partly responsible for its policy. As a consequence, New Zealand to-day, possesses but a. skeleton defence force, and there is little sign of that' rush to recruit, that is developing in the Homeland, and Australia. The Dominion, of course, is a long way from threatened centres, but, none the loss, has to face the possibility of attack. The Labour Government’s present policy was made clear by Mr. Nash, in his address at the Hutt, this week’. He said: “Tf the Old. Country is attacked, we are too. We hate all this war propaganda, but if an attack is made on (treat Britain, then we will

assist her to the fullest extent possible.” Mr. Nash spoke for the whole country, in this instance, but when, the cheers have subsided, it might well be asked if it is wise to wait for such attack before attempting io be of assistance. “The fullest extent possible” would be more imposing, if greater measures were taken meanwhile, in the way of pre-

paration. The Labour Government must be given credit for its new attitude towards national defence, tshort. of adequate training for the country's manhood, it has done all that could be reasonably expected, but the exception is most important,. Mechanisation has lessened the demand for manpower, but the latter is still, the chief card to play against an enemy. There may be cause for criticism of the type of training followed, but there is no excuse for national apathy. Public opinion is not enthusiastic about compulsory military training, and it might not be wise to attempt to enforce such system, meanwhile, treater efforts should be made to popularise the Territorial system. A publicity campaign to simulate recruiting should be accompanied by generous treatment of the volunteers by the Government, and private employers. Just as preference was once given to exsoldiers, so preference in various directions should be given to those who are giving their time and services, in readiness to become soldiers, should war come. Given such encouragement, it is reasonably certain that the offers to serve would be readily forthcoming, and what is now a national risk would be minimised. Apart from war risks, it cannot be honestly disputed that the Dominion's young men would be the better for a course in modern mil-

itary training', so if peace wore preserved —as all hope—the efforts would not be wasted.