King Country Chronicle. Wednesday, July 26, 1939. DEFENCE AND MAN POWER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4815, 26 July 1939, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Wednesday, July 26, 1939. DEFENCE AND MAN POWER.

The importance given the subject of defence in the Address-in-Reply in Parliament shows the paramount importance of this issue in view of the present tension prevailing' in international affairs. The latest statements from Germany and Poland fail to give rise to any hopes of an easing of tension. There is a lull, but nothing has occurred to give the lie to the fear that August or September are likely to provide a grave crisis in Europe. That the New Zealand Government had been advised by the Imperial Government to prepare for war in August or September and that woollen and boot manufacturing companies in the Dominion were working at full pressure to cope with increased Government contracts were statements made by a Southern businessman on Saturday, states a report that has been received. Last Wednesday the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, outlined the considerable expenditure by the Government in modernising and augmenting the three arms of New Zealand defences. This report was the culmination of much inquiry and consideration. The understanding reached when the Prime Minister consulted with the Imperial authorities during his visit to England for the Coronation in 1937 was that the Dominions, having been made aware of the realities of the situation, were to be left to make their own arrangements for defence. Since then there has been the war crisis of September last, a conference in Wellington with visiting naval, military and air force experts, and an investigation and report on our defence organisation by a member of the Imperial delegation, Major-General Mackesy. Now we have heard of the progress that has been made, the question has come back to one of manpower—the man-power necessary to make the defence expenditure effective. Compulsory military service is the fairest and best method of providing that man-power, but in the

present situation the system . now offering must be grasped, for in its success or failure lies the success or failure of this Dominion's defences. It is most encouraging to note the Minister's announcement that on July 20 the total strength was 14,641 out of the present peace establishment of 16,000. Locally the country districts have responded wonderfully well, and it is to be hoped and expected that the effort to bring the Te Kuiti training centre up to its full strength will meet with success.