URGENT NEED FOR DEFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 263, 5 October 1936, Page 6

URGENT NEED FOR DEFENCE.

In the “Standard” on Friday there appeared two items of news which at first sight would appear to have no connection one witii the other. Yet a critical observer will find a point on which to base criticism of the Government. Une matter referred to tlie intention to spend half a million pounds on a railway deviation at Turakina, as authorised by an enabling Act, and the other to a statement by Sir Keith Murdoch, of Melbourne, a wellknown Australian journalist and a student of European affairs, who has returned from a visit to Britain and .Europe, that both Australia and New Zealand must without delay make their defence organisations effective. Such warnings as Sir Keith’s, which bear the hallmark, of knowledge of their subject and sincerity, have been prominent of late, but the Government is not heeding them to the extent it should. Observations made at Geneva by Mr Jordan, which the Prime Minister has accepted as interpreting Government policy, do not suggest a grasp of the international situation. In its Budget the Government’s reference to defence was not impressive. There was no assurance that the Dominion would be placed in a position to at least reasonably defend itself in case of emergency. Yet the Government can spend half a million pounds on a deviation which is not a pressing work and can be held over for a few years. That sum added to the defence estimates would prove of inestimable benefit in helping to provide for the aerial and other defences of the Dominion. An officer is coming from the British Air Ministry to advise the Government on air defence, and what he will see here will not be convincing. The Government, if it is to prove true to its great trust, must go further than building an economic structure that in its opinion will be strong; it must ensure protection to the greatest extent against attacks from foreign foes.