The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1933. AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE PLANS.

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 30 September 1933, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1933. AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE PLANS.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera- Manaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho Oeo. Pihama, Opunake, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Ngaere. Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Te Kiri, Mahoe. Lowgarth, Manutahi, Kakaramea, Alton. Hurleyville. Patea, Wbenuakura, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road and Ararata.

Sir George Pearce, Federal Minister of Defence, recently took the opportunity at a club luncheon to give the public •of the Commonwealth of Australia a clear and early indication of the Government’s plans for strengthening the defences of Australia. This .speech had its interest for New Zealand also, for 'this Dominion has not been immune to the influence of the recent outbreak of speculation regarding the prospects for .the continued maintenance of peace in the Pacific. The Federal Minister entered sufficiently into details to leave no room for doubt .that it is a considerable programme which the Australian Government has in contemplation, and that its defence policy will assume a colour of activity such, as it has not known for a good many years. An efficient squadron of ships—•cruisers, destroyers, and' other .craft air force additions, the strengthening of coastal defences, the creation of armoured 1 ear units, amd an increased manufacture of arms and ammunition are leading features of the programme. Financial .stringency has been a factor iir curtailing defence expenditure in both Great Britain and Australia. The Australian Navy, several of the vessels of which have been, out of commission, hlas shrunk ,t'a small .proportions. The British Navy, upo-n the protecting arm of which the Empire so 'largely depends for security, has reached a stage which, according to the experts, demands that its reinforcement be no longer delayed. The Federal Government has no doubt been in close consultation with the Imperial Government with reference to the question of defence, and the augmented squadron for which it has decided to make provision will dovetail, as heretofore, into the Imperial defence scheme. Mr W. M. Hughes, ex-Pr,ime Minister and now president of the Defence of Australia League, has been coming in for some criticism for his efforts to rouse the public and the Government of Australia to. a need for an increase in ■the defences of the Commonwealth. There is always a suspicion that Mr Hughes loves sensationalism for its own Sake and, incidentally, for his own advertisement. These prejudices notwithstanding, however, there is a growing opinion .that the fiery 'little ex-Primo Minister has a good ideal of logic on his side and .possibly the Government has deemed: it expedient to puiblish its programme as a means of assuaging public agitation. There is no escape from •the fact that world conditions and relations are not such as to inspire confid'enlce that -security is assured. Mr DoWnie Stewart, who is 'by no means an alarmist, Stated' at the British Commonwealth Relations’ Conference at Toronto -that there was no use in attempting to deny the grave danger of war in. the Pacific. However that may be, there is unquestionably an obligation on the Dominions of the Pacific, if only in -their own interests, to relieve Great Britain as much as they can of that portion of the burden of protecting the Empire by means of the navy which arises out of their own situation and circumstances. New Zealand canhot afford! -to remain; indifferent to the considerations' of safety which are actuating Australia in overhauling -her defences and a public which has never approved of our Government’s abandonment of the Territorial training system is waiting with interest to learn what this country proposes to do in the way of supporting Australia.