DEFENCE PROBLEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 8, 8 December 1936, Page 9

DEFENCE PROBLEM.

CIVIL LORD'S QUESTION. FAITH IN DEMOCRACY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. "There has been a lot of nonsense talked about the value of collective seeuritv in defence," said Mr Kenneth Lindsay (Civil Lord of the Admiralty), replying to a welcome at a State luncheon to-day. "It you talk about collectivo security as a national aspiration it is logical to ask what is going to be done about national defence," he added. "That, I think, is the problem which immediately presents itself to the self-governing Dominions. That is what collective security really means. May I leave it at that? I do not think it is necessary to dot i's and cross t's." Referring to what was going on in Europe to-day Mr Lindsay emphasised the need of maintaining the system ot free democracy and freedom of election. That svstem alone dignified the men who were elected and the nation that elected them. Mr Lindsay mentioned that he had found ill Germany that leadership was the predominant principle and free election was decried as being weak. The movement in Europe to-day was primarily anti-political. The political svstem was being lampooned, and this was going on also in England and in Australia. Personally ho stood strictly by the democratic system, which implied the will to defend itself. It also implied strength at the centre, maintenance of the rights of citizenship, freedom of thought, freedom of contract, and within reasonable limits freedom in the exchange of goods. These were the only safeguards for wages and a decent standard of living. "A dictatorship does not go hand in hand with a high standard of living, Mr Lindsay added. "That is why 1 am visiting New Zealand to see this sturdy democratic plan. Meanwhile 1 am proud to be a humble Minister m one of the greatest agencies for peace, the Royal Navy."