The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1939. PREPARATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1939, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1939. PREPARATIONS.

The Government lias not lost time in preparations for the emergency arising irom tJie state or war. the essential orders-in-ceuncil cover matters of importance, ana it is tlie.quty of the public to comply with siedirections, : it may be a cause of inconvenience at tunes,, but the care of fjie-whole,'is es- : sential, and personal .dispoipforts. m,ust i. be. endured cheerfully..,The rationing, ' .proposals are betimes/.,With the new air.; war and the undej’-water cam-, I paign, oversea tyansporj>,may be diffi- / cult, at times, and until, jmattejrs settle' i to a more normal stride, there .is the need tor caution. The preparations will feel their way as the progress of the . conflict ljiay necessitate. Although til'e most anxious period has passed as to war or no war, there are still items of . serious importance to consider. It is * necessary to have seme idea of the possible entry of other combatants, and the effect their entrance would create. Germany has nominal allies on | which a call might be made, and there will be further insecurity in regard to the immediate future. On that account the Government has been wise in the prompt action taken. Matters in other directions indicate a close attention to essentials. The expansive programme in, regard to, defence generally has been pushed, freward of late with marked advantage, and the benefits are now to be seen in the readiness with' which various developments are taking place. In that connection it is pleasing to note the number of voluntiers coming forward. This is typical of the feeling in other parts, and in New Zealand the authorities had to call a halt in the flow of recruits for various a vocations in with defence work. The spirit is in keeping witty the general level of approval of the course Britain has decided to take in the interests of all, and the backing from all parts of the Empire will be an encouragement to the leaders at Home in the great task they have undertaken. It will be noticed from tlie news, too, that New Zealanders at Home, are offering their services for ' defence, and their preparedness to join up with any expeditionary force. Whether such will be necessary remains to be seen. The course of events will determine that line of action, but the pledge to support Great Britain is so definite that any call for help must needs be answered promptly. Likewise it should be as effective as possible, and to that end as mentioned in a previous issue, preparation in the way of more intensive training should be taken up. Any men sent should he trained men capable of co-operating in companies under proper discipline. The training for such duties requires some time for instruction, and a beginning cannot be commenced too soon. To complete New Zealand’s, part to the fullest requirement, 'military training should be taken up in all seriousness, and groups of all available men instructed in those duties which fall to the lot of a useful soldier