STUPID WAR TALK

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1938, Page 5

STUPID WAR TALK

Defence League Chairman

N.Z. MAY BE SEIZED.

WELLINGTON, March 12.

Reference was made to-day by the Dominion president of the New Zealand Defence League (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.) to a statement in the House of Commons on Monday by MrNeville Chamberlain that the f1.500,000,000 which was announced two years ago as the sum to be spent on armaments over a period of three years would not nok be sufficient. Mr Chamberlain laid down as the basis objectives: — (1) Defence of United Kingdom. (2) Defence of trade routes that f<ed it; and ' (3) The maintenance of naval bases and strategic points in various parts of the world. “It is the third point that immediately concerns New Zealand, 1 ' said Mr Perry, “because Mr Chamberlain stated that that objective was not as vital as the defence of Great Britain because as long as Great Britain was not defended at home, even if she sustained losses overseas, she might have, the opportunity to make it good afterwards. . ' “This statement appears to visualise the possibility of seizure of .New Zealand by a foreign power in the event of war, and it is of the greatest importance that the people of New Zealand should be e.<h'-rt. :J 'o appreciate the danger.” Mi’ Perry will address a meeting of women members of the Weliington branch of the League on Tuesday, and will discuss the position of the overseas Dominions, particularly New Zealand, in view of the warning uttered recently by Mr Chamberlain.