IF WAR COMES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 September 1935, Page 8

IF WAR COMES.

WHAT WILL NEW ZEALAND DO? "LORDS" BACK PRIME MINISTER (By Telegraph—tress Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the Legislative Council to-day, continuing the Address-in-Eeply debate, Hon. R. McCallum referred to the Abyssinian position. He said that as a member of the League of Nations Abyssinia had a right to be fairly dealt with. Mr Forbes had been taken to task for saying that when Britain was at war New Zealand was at war, but he was of opinion that every member of the Council and House should uphold Mr Forbes 's view and let Britain know that the Prime Minister was supported. There was some question as to what Mr Forbes had said, but he himself saw no reason why the Prime Minister should go back on the statement he made in Canada. There was no need to call Parliament together in the event of war, as Mr Forbes could communicate with every member in two or three hours and obtain his views. The proposal to take a plebiscite was the sheet-anchor of a shuffler. He ventured the opinion that a great majority of the constituents would strongly support the Government in telling the Home Government that New Zealand was heart and soul with them. New Zealand should stand with the Home Government first for sentimental reasons. He contended that New Zealand had almost been spoon-fed by England and over-kindness did not always breed the right spirit. From the trade point of view Britain's ports had always been open, but had New Zealand reciprocated, he asked. Britain had never put on a levy on imports from New Zealand, which had borrowed extensively from Britain. Dealing with Britain's policy, Mr McCallum said that as honest men they had to say that the Empire Government was bound to the League of Nations. Italy's policy might be a gigantic bluff but he could not conceive war if all the members of the League were agreeable. All supplies coiii'd be cancelled, but in the final result a few ships of war supplied by the different nations could blow the Italian navy to smithereens, and without her navy where would Italy be, with her coastline unprotected and the country invaded. There was no reason why the example of the United States should not be taken and a federated Europe come into being. Hon. L. M. Isitt said he had always been a strong pacifist. The only excuse for war was for defence or for the protection of those being illtreated. While a strong pacifist ho was not an insane pacifist, and unfortunately there were too many insane pacifists and he was sorry he was able to identify some with the Christian Church. They were wrong from a theological standpoint. Pacifists had no right to encourage the attack of an enemy by advertising* to the world that they would not fight. Hon. W. W. Snodgrass said Italy and Abyssinia should be prepared to accept the League's ruling. There was no doubt that the people of New Zealand, as the Prime Minister had said, wouid be behind the British Government in any steps taken. Labour Ranks Divided WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Parliamentary Labour Party held a caucus in Wellington to consider the attitude to be adopted with regard to the situation in Europe. The delegates were unanimously in favour of supporting the League of Nations and many went so far as to say that they w : ould agree to the imposition of sanctions, but there was a strong pacifist element which was against this on the ground that sanctions would have to be backed up by military action. As no agreement could be come to on the matter the caucus decided to leave it open.