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What About National Defence?

CIVIL LORD’S VIEW OP DOMINION’S PROBLEM. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. "There has been a lot of nonsense talked about the value of collective security in defence,” said Mr. Kenneth Lindsay, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, replying to a welcome at a State lunch eon to-day. “If you talk about collective security as a national aspiration it is logical to ask what is going to bo dono 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 w ; hat was going on in Europe to-day Mr. Lindsay emphasised the need of maintaining the system of free democracy and freedom of election. That system alone dignified the men who wore elected and a nation that elected them. Mr. Lindsay mentioned that he found in 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 system was being lampooned and this was going on. also in England and in Australia. Personally he 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 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 I am visiting New Zealand to see this sturdy democratic plau. Meanwhile I am proud to be a humble Minister in one of the greatest agencies for peace, the Royal Navy.”

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19361208.2.55

Bibliographic details

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 290, 8 December 1936, Page 7

Word Count
313

What About National Defence? Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 290, 8 December 1936, Page 7

What About National Defence? Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 290, 8 December 1936, Page 7