The Manawatu Daily Times Aerial Defence

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 194, 19 August 1935, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times Aerial Defence

To anyone with a knowledge ol.’ world affairs the dreamlike complacency of the people of this Dominion passes all understanding’. An election is impending, innumerable candidates broadcast, their views, Ministers of the Crown give presessional addresses, and not a word is heard upon defence, A\ o insure our houses, our motor-cars, our lives, and take out insurances against dozens of other risks. Defence is national insurance, but to this we are strangely apathetic. Indeed, it is being openly said: ‘‘There are no votes in defence. ■' That being ready true, it is impossible to expect Parliament to act decisively upon this question, until the public attitude changes. Parliament, whether the public believe it or not, is in truth the will of the people.

Can it be said that New Zealand’s situation is so secure that no attack upon us is possible? Can it be claimed that we have any adequate means of defence were we attacked? Our situation is by no means secure and our defences are lev all practical purposes little better than useless.

The air arm offers to countries situated as ours is a particularly effective and comparatively economical form of defence. This should be developed to at least six times its present strength to be an effective unit. The Australian Defence Department is now belatedly drawing- plans for the development of a complete aircraft building industry, including the manufacture of aero engines in the Commonwealth.

Similar action should be taken in this country. Only by building ’planes ourselves can wc provide adequately for our own defence. By having our own manufactures, we-will have more ’planes, more up-to-date ’planes, complete facilities for their repair and upkeep, and a highly-trained corps of air mechanics. Additionally, such a development would ensure the saving on hand of materials for ’plane repairs should our communications ever he cut off. The development would also be of distinct value to our commercial air services and a further advantage would lie in the employment afforded by such a plant.

That great English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, said "the primary functions of Government were two, the defence of the-realm and the maintenance of law and order.”

Mr Coates Returns

Mr. Coates is home again, ancl the comprehensive survey lie has given ol the result of his negotiations in Britain on the meat problem proves conclusively that his trip was more than justilicd.

While there is good ground fox* congratulation on the general, result of the negotiations, it will be noticed that on one or two vital points we arc still "up in the air.” It can hardly he said, for instance, that the remarks of the Finance Minister on the future of our dairy produce are altogether reassuring, and the leaders of the industry will have to do some hard thinking in the next year or two. The dairy farmer is also being called upon to change his policy in pig-raising in order to meet the needs of the Home market. Fewer porkers and more baeoners are lxeeded, but it should not be difficult to make the necessary adjustments in breeding and feeding

Mi*. Coates only beat his leader home by a few hours, and no doubt when the Prime Minister arrives to-day little time will be lost in getting into the election tight which is daily increasing in interest and intensity. One of the policy matters which will possibly receive early attention.; will be the system of voting at the forthcoming elections. AVith three parties in the field and a daily-growing contingent of Independents the danger of vote-splitting becomes a very real one, and it is hardly likely that the Government will risk defeat at the polls by sticking to the obviously unfair "first past the post” system at present in vogue. The electors wiH’axvait Cabinet’s decision on this liiutLcr. with, the, keenest inlernsL