DEFENCE PROBLEMS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 September 1929, Page 5

DEFENCE PROBLEMS.

HOUSE DISCUSSES NEXT WAR.

CONSCRIPTION OF WEALTH HAS MORE THAN LABOUR SUPPORTERS.

PUBLICATION OF SAMOAN REPORT

AROUSES PROTEST

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) ’ WELLINGTON, This Day. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. UNEMPLOYMENT BILL. Mr P. Eraser (Wellington Central) gave notice of his intention to bit reduce Unemployed Workers Bill No. 2 CRITICISM OE DEFENCE SYSTEM. Discussing the annual report of the General Officer Commanding the Defence Forces of New Zealand, Mr W. J. Jordan (Manukau) said it seemed unreasonable that, while persons convicted by the Civil Court were dismissed from the forces, thereby gaining exemption, other young men who appealed for very good reasons, were not granted exemption. He also submitted that, instead of raising the standard of fitness to keep down the number of trainees, it would be preferable to take in those young men who were not as fit, but wanted to serve, and grant exemption to those who did not desire to enter the forces. It seemed to him that those who wdro physically unfit were more in need of some sort of training than the others. He urged that the country should return to the volunteer system, and should pay more attteution to physical training. MENACE OF AN AMMUNITION

STORE. ! Mr 11. E. Jenkins (Parnell) urged that the ammunition store at Devonport should be transferred to one of the islands in the vicinity, or to some •tk«r plaec where it would not be a potential danger to the populace. CONSCRIPTION OF ALL RESOURCES.

Mr Fred Waite (Clutha) stated that it was quite wrong to assume that the Great War had ended wars. There had been more strife in the ten years following that event than in ten vears preceding it. With such facts as naval competition, the submarine race, uneasiness in the’Balkans, the present relationship between Germany and France, and developments in the air and chemical methods of warfare staring us in the face, we ha.d to be prepared. He asked the Minister ol Defence whether he had worked out a scheme for the conscription of other things besides men in the event of war, and he referred to the French system of conscripting the whole nation. He advocated payment to all people serving at home at the same rates as the ordinary soldier in the field received. This, he added, might make war loss popular. LABOUR IDEA OF 1916.

(Mr-Holland (Bailor) said that the latter portion of Mr Waite’s remarks practically outlined the Labour Party’s 1916 manifesto. He was glad to observe that there had been one convert in the ranks of tho Reform Party. Mr Holland said that world peac-.' was largely dependant < u international relationship and arrangement, and ho asked the Minister what was his attitude towards New Zealand ’a signing the optional clause of tho statute of <the International Court of Justice. DAiVGER.S OF EXEM PTJOX.

Mr Alex. Harris (Waitemara) defended the present defence system, ami opposed the suggestion to grant exemption from service to any section qt the community. He contended that the ultimate result of such a course would be the breakdown of the defence of the country. RE-MODELLING OF SYSTEM, URGED.

Colonel T. W. McDonald (W airarapa) asserted that the volunteer system would not in any way reduce the efficiency of the defence forces of the Dominion. He believed 'that the time had arrived for a complete re-modelling of our organisation, and that a huge suin of money could be saved ■without anv loss of efficiency. “conscription of wealth. Mr W. B. Barnard (Napier), said >ke Labour Party intended next session to introduce a Defence Bill of its own and it might almost be emboldened, in consequence of Mr Waite’s remarks, to include some provision, for the conscription of wealth in the event of war. He forecasted that provisions for compulsory physical training would bo included.

Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo) favoured the volunteer system. He added that in the event of war the Defence Act should enable, by a stroke of the pen, tho conscription not only of every man and woman, but of our resources as well.

That the power of conscripting wealth existed to-day was the view expressed by Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), who said the Government could achieve this by means of taxation. Mr Wright added that he believed some hope for peace existed in the development of devices so deadly that nations would be afraid to go to war.

DEFENCE ESTIMATES HIGHER. The Hon. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) stated that the naval defence estimates were £40,000 higher than last year. The explanation of this was that we had not, up to the present, carried out our undertaking arranged at the Imperial* Conference. It had first been agreed wo should maintain in these waters three cruisers at an average cost of £170,000 per year. Subsequently it had been arranged that we should maintain only two cruisers and contribute £125,000 to the Singapore base and provide repair docks at Devonport. The maintenance of H.M.S. Dunedin had actually exceeded the average and had cost £200,000 per year, and H.M.S. Diomedo had cost £IBO,OOO, What we had not done was to improve the Calliope Dock at Auckland so that it would be capable of dealing with first class cruisers. This task was nowr being undertaken. The increase in naval expenditures would be only temporary. The British Government, realising the state of New Zealand’s financial position, had met this country so fairly in

regard to repairs that this increase would not be permanent. Mr Wilford agreed that the whole defence system in this country, in common with other countries, required remodelling, but this could not be achieved- in the twinkling of an eye. In regard to compulsory training he pointed out that while there were volunteer systems in Britain and Canada these countries had standing armies, whereas New Zealand had not. FIRM HAND IN SAMOA. _ Sir Joseph Ward initiated a discussion on reports on the mandated territory of Western Samoa. He said everything the Government had done was in accordance with the aim to take no action that was not in the best interests of the Samoans themselves. Unfortunately, there had been an effort made by people outside Samoa to interfere with the Administration. GOVERNMENT WILE NOT BE COERCED.

In reply to Air H. E. Holland, Sir Joseph Ward said he referred to nobody in, the House. He added the Government had no desire to gain anything for itself, financially or otherwise, from, the Samoans, it had no other desire than to carry out faithfully its obligations under the mandate. If members of the Mau had any just grievance they should know that they would be able to obtain justice from the Government. There was one thing that the Government would never do. It would not bo coerced into countenancing open defiance of the law. It wished to be conciliatory and sympathetic and if the Samoans wanted to obtain any change iu Administration oxredress in any way they should know that the means to obtain it was not open defiance of the law. He looked forward to the day when we would be able to associate with the Samoans in the administration of their country. The nomination of the Samoan representatives should be in the hands of the Governor-General and the natives’ representations would be given every consideration. Nothing but mistrust and misunderstanding of our intentions could stand between us.and the Mau, and there was xio justification for such misunderstanding. The. Government was engaged in reducing the expenditure of the territory and bringing income aui expenditure closer together, hue ultimate aim was a self-supporting territory. The New Zealand Government (lid not intend to continue contributing an annua! gift of money from the taxpayers of the Dominion equal to an amouxxt of one-fifth of the whole expenditure of the Samoan territory. PARLIAMENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES. Sir Joseph Warn asked members to remember the responsibility they incurred by their remarks in Parliament. All should boar ir. mind that what might be reasonable and just when said of New Zealand politics looked very different when read by the Samoans 1700 miles away. Remarks of members might be read in another language bv people resentful of New Zealand’s administration and suspicious of her intentions.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Coates) concurred in the policy that had been outlined by Sir Joseph Ward. He disagreed with the publication of the report on personnel in Samoa. Ho believed that it had never been intended that such a report should have been printed. It was definitely unfair that the Committee should report ou individuals without those individuals having had the opportunity of appearing before tho tribunal to be heard as £o J whether their administration was faulty or not. The Government, under the eireuinstances', noun! have been well adviseu to have sent the report back to the Administrator, who should have been given an opportunity to safeguard against the interests individuals being unfairly compromised Mr Coates added that he had nothing but admiration for the Committm* who had submitted the report, ami he did not think they would have phrased the report in such a way had they known that it would be published without further action. He agreed that the Prime Minister’s policy towards Samoa was the only dignified course possible. The House adjourned at I p.m.