THE COUNTRY’S DEFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 101, 29 March 1939, Page 8

THE COUNTRY’S DEFENCE.

No subject is of more vital importance to this country to-day than that of defence. At the end ox this week the Social Security Act will come into force, but what security will it give if there is no security from adequate defence?' Some days ago the Prime Minister made the refreshing declaration that “New Zealand will be found wherever Britain is when Britain is in trouble,” for “When Britain is in trouble we are in trouble.” That is the traditional jxolicy of this country, and it was because of the danger that threatened thirty years ago that Sir Joseph Ward made his historic gift of the battleship New Zealand to the Imperial Government. Later, the Dominion found it necessary to compulsorily train its young manhood in defence, and from that Territorial Force came a splendid young army to win lustre for the country on the field of battle overseas. But times changed. Voluntary took the place of compulsory service, and we have today a Territorial Army of round about 9000 men whose training by no means compares with that of nearly thirty years ago, and who are hindered because of insufficient strength in their respective units. What is urgently required now is a vigorous defence policy. We were to spend £2,000,000 in the financial year just ending, a wholly insignificant sum when compared with Australia’s programme spread 'over three years and costingmore than £00,000,000. Again the Mother Country we are to help in times of adversity spent no less than £348,000,000 last year on defence. It will be hoped that the conference to be held shortly between Britain, Australia, and blew Zealand on Pacific defence will more seriously awaken the Government to the urgency of the problem. The fact is inescapable that no citizen army of proper size can be established in this country without compulsory service, and the times demand the most serious attention to land defence. In the meantime the Defence League is doing valuable work in developing- a public conscience on the subject generally, and the address to be given to-morrow evening in the Opera House by Hon. IV. Perry, Dominion President of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, should receive the closest attention of citizens.