DRASTIC DEFENCE ACTION URGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22588, 17 March 1948, Page 6

DRASTIC DEFENCE ACTION URGED

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING IN N.Z.

WAR VETERANS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT

(P.A.)

WELLINGTON, March 17,

The New Zealand E.S.A., Air Force Association and the Home Servicemen’s Association are completely united in view of the present chaotic situation in world affairs in offering to the Government the strongest support in the most drastic action it may take for the defence of New Zealand.

The problem of national defence has been frequently considered by the Dominion executive committees of all these three ex-srvice-men’s associations in recent months, and a full statement was prepared and published some months ago.

The executives of these associations feel that a decision can no longer be safely postponed.

They call on the Government to announce its policy and to lake prompt action to put it into effect. Measures Proposed These associations, therefore, pledge their strongest support to the Government if it was prepared to implement the following basic formula:— (1) That the Government immediately establish a compulsory universal military service for young men from. say. the age of 18 years for a period sufficient to establish a reasonable standard of efficiency. (2) This will necessitate the establishment of adequate Naval. Army and Air Force training organisations. The trainees when called up to be permitted as far as possible to volunteer for the service and the arm of that service in which they desire to serve. (3) That compulsory service include all men mentally and physically capable of some type of service. (41 That men over the age group decided upon the compulsory training and women auxiliaries be accepted for voluntary service in support of the objectives set out above. (5) That implementation of the provisions outlined in this resolution for the defence of' New Zealand be treated as a matter of the greatest urgency.

“Vital and Urgent Question”

A Press Association messoge from New Plymouth states tnai. endorsing the view of the Wanganui branch of the R.S.A. that the adequate defence of New Zealand is a vital and urgent question, the executive of the New Plymouth R.S.A. decided last night to ask its Dominion headquarters to request the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, to call an immediate special meeting of Cabinet to formulate a programme for the Army, Navy and Air Force defence of the Dominion and a scheme of compulsory physical and military training based on the requirements of the various services.