Dominion’s Role in Empire Defence

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 10

Dominion’s Role in Empire Defence

“New Zealand is the furthest from the United Kingdom of all the Dominions, but it lies very' close to the hearts of us all in this country',” said Sir Thomas Inskip, the new Dominions Secretary, when proposing the toast of “The Dominion” at the annual dinner of the New Zealand Society on New Zealand Day. “When we speak of New Zealand,” Sir Thomas said, “we feel that wc are speaking of intimate members of our own family. There is something about tho Dominion which makes us feel instinctively as much at home as we hope that visitors and relations feel when they come to this country.” One of the subjects of the Imperial Conference had been defence, and the fruits of that conference had grown and ripened, and the measures necessary' to perfect the defence of New Zealand and the United Kingdom had been taken with increasing swiftness and efficiency'.

Referring to the departure to New Zealand of Sir Harry Batterbee, “one of our best known public servants,” Sir Thomas said his appointment marked a new stage in the development of the relations between the Dominion and the United Kingdom, and was a source of satisfaction to both. Lord Rutherford’s Work In paying a tribute to the late Lord Rutherford, Sir Thomas said: “I had the closest association with him. Very few people realise what a great contribution he made to the perfecting of oqr defences. It was a deep, a great loss that we suffered in his death. He was a man with a most human and lovable personality, and with his gifts he was ever ready to devote his genius to the services of his country. We are deeply indebted to New Zealand when we think of the great man whom it sent over here to help us develop our scientific equipment.” Sir Thomas also paid a tri-bute to Sir

Tot by King, and added: “When wo think that New Zealand can produce men like those for the service of their country' and the Commonwealth of Nations we may be quite sure that New Zealand's place is assured, anti wo wish to be more closely associated with her in the future so that we way be proud of our mutual achievement* in the arts of peace.”

Viscount Biedisloe, who referred to New Zealand as his “spiritual home,** proposed tho toast of the visitors. In commenting on New Zealand’s aviation, Lord Biedisloe said that when h* was in the Dominion its air services were so attenuated that it required an exceptionally strong microscope to discover them. Since .then there had been remarkable progress, some of which might be due to the influence of the exploits of Miss Jean Batten. Assistance in Defence Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril XewaJl, in replying, said he desired to add his tribute to the new Secretary of State lor the Dominions, Sir Thomas Inskip. “We, who have been AAorking with him, whether on Supply Committee, Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee, or on the Committee of Imperial Defence itself, have the very highest admiration of all he has done.” Referring to the new Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, Sir Cyril Newall said that, speaking on behalf of the Defence Forces of the Crown, he could say that they had worked with Lord Chatiield on the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee over a long period and they were extremely pleased that they were going to have the benefit of his wide experience and his guidance, which they knew they could count upon at all times. Tho Dominion of New Zealand was not only increasing her own forces but was giving direct increasing assistance to the United Kingdom. “It is for each i Dominion to say what it wants to and what it can do. It is too much to hope that some day in the future—and not too far distant future—tve may see a New Zealand unit located, in peace time, at some important point on those communications which are w' vital to us all?