NO TALK OF CONSCRIPTION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 5 January 1935, Page 5

NO TALK OF CONSCRIPTION

SIR M. HANKEY’S VISIT TO N.Z. HON. J. G. COBBE’S COMMENT (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. When the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, was asked to-day to comment on the cabled messages from London regarding Sir Maurice Hankcy’s tour through the Dominions he said it would be foolish to take any notice of them. When Sir Maurice was in New Zealand the question of conscription as a means of strengthening Empire defences was never raised.

“Nobody ever spoke of conscription here,” the Minister said. “In the discussions with Sir Maurice Hankey I never heard the term used.” The Manchester Guardian sarcastically contrasted Mr MacDonald's emphasis that Si: Maurice Hankey’s visit laid no political significance with reports from Australia with reference to his recommendations, adding “Whether Australia should or should not have conscription is a matter for the Australians themselves to decide. Doubtless the Australian Government asked Sir Maurice Hankey’s opinion, but it is clearly a serious thing and a most important departure in policy for the secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence to advise Australia to reintroduce conscription. One must ask in what capacity and as the representative of whom or what body of opinion Sir Maurice Hankey is now speaking.”