King Country Chronicle. Saturday, August 11, 1928. DEFENCE NOT WANTED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2613, 11 August 1928, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Saturday, August 11, 1928. DEFENCE NOT WANTED.

Two petitions were presented to Parliament, neither of which will meet with much sympathy by those with even a superficial knowledge of world conditions to-day. One asked for the abolition of military training, while the other requested that a referendum be taken to decide whether New Zealand should adopt a policy of “immediate total disarmament in her land, sea, and air forces, accompanied by the immediate suspension of all contributions towards war preparations outside the Dominion.” There has been a consistent effort the last three years to abolish compulsory training and reinstate the volunteer system, but wiser (counsels have prevailed and the training of our young men to prepare for any contingency is still being carried out. It is the only insurance the Dominion has for its own safety. The volunteer system of training, however, successful it was a quarter of a century ago, dees not go far enough with the accumulating world problems. The country must carry heavier responsibilties every year if it wishes to have a wider sphere of influence in Empire matters. It cannot continue to place the whole of the responsibility for its own safety on the shoulders of the Mother Country, and must at least have the skeleton of a defensive force in the event of another international conflict. To state that the training of our young men for military training leads to a jingoistic feeling is ridiculous and not worthy of consideration. Should the young men of this Dominion be again called upon to fight for their country the response would be just as wholehearted as during 1914-1918, irrespective of whether compulsory or military training was in operation, but the Empire has learned much during the war of 1914-1918. When war broke out the men had to be trained for months before they were fit to undertake their real military duties, whereas if they had received a grounding of these duties, a few weeks only would have been necessary. This Dominion cannot afford to maintain a standing army, even of small dimensions, and the oniy alternative is to have an emergency force, comprised of able-bodied young men of all stations in life, and not those alone who volunteered to undertake military training. When people seriously suggest that the Dominion should not contribute further towards Avar preparations of any kind, it shows how little they understand the international situation of to-day. The League of Nations is striving to bring about world peace through the only practical avenue disarmament of the nations. This is one of the greatest and most complicated undertakings ever attempted in the Avorld’s history, and it may take several decades to bring it to fruition. The consummation of this ideal is made more difficult by the reluctance of the United States to co-operate in the scheme. The Kellog anti-war plan may help to bring about a better international feeling, but there is nothing binding in it —nothing to warrant any country at the present time discarding all means of defence. Then there is the Asiatic menace always looming on the horizon, and this cannot be ignored, more especially by a small and isolated country like New Zealand. Until such time as the world Powers come to a practical and sound understanding for the elimination of war, the British Empire must be prepared for any emergency, and this Dominion, situated as it is, so far from the Mother Country, has a responsibility in this connection which, for its own safety, it cannot ignore. To do otherwise would be nothing short of madness. The world has realised the horrors of .the last war, and also that should another world conflagration take lolace it Avould have added horrors awful to contemplate. Most of the large Powers desire peace, but as a result of the aftermath of the events of 1918-1919 are inclined to be hysterical and nervy. The Balkan countries are still, the powder magazine of Europe; Italy under Mussolini is showing a growing ambition to extend her sphere of influence; Russia has been trying for ten years to stir up a world revolution; Japan is over-populated, and must have an outlet; America is riding rough shod over the interests of other countries in China. With all these International problems to be solved, it is the duty of every unit of the British Empire to be prepared for all contingencies. A “gentleman’s agreement,” such as the Kellog anti-war pact, gives nothing tangible for the safety of any nation.