OLDER MEN FIRST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 1 September 1938, Page 8

OLDER MEN FIRST.

DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 31. A suggestion that was received with disfavour was made to the annual conference of the New Zealand Leaguo of Nations’ Union by Mr S. J. Bennett, of Palmerston North, who proposed that in the event of conscription being adopted, men between the ages of 40 and 50 should bo sent to fight beforo the youth of the community were called upon. Mr Bennett moved, on behalf of the Palmerston North branch, that the Government be urged to arrange that the socially responsible older people b e called on for the defence of New Zealand before making any conscription of youth. There was some discussion, in the course of which Hon. T. Bloodworth (Auckland) said that if effect were given to the remit it would mean that the men who fought the last war would have to fight in the next. The remit was not put to the meeting, a motion being carried. “That this conference pass on to the next business.”

The following Otago remit was passed: “That in view of the aggression of Japan in China and recalling the official verdict against Japan as aggressor in the present hostilities, this conference endorses all measures for granting aid to China and particularly in the supply of food, medical and financial assistance to sufferers from the war, and further, welcomes refusal by individuals and societies to purchase goods of Japanese origin as a step towards limiting the duration of the present invasion of China.” It was decided to communicate with the Australian League of Nations :rure to bear on the Governments of headquarters asking it to bring presthe Commonwealth to. prevent the further export of scrap" iron and other materials essential to Japan for use in warfare.