“SECURITY IN DEFENCE NONSENSE”

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1936, Page 6

“SECURITY IN DEFENCE NONSENSE”

MR K. LINDSAY, M.P,, AND VALUE OF DEMOCRACY

(Per Press Association. Copyright .l WELLINGTON, This Day.

“There has been a lot of nonsense talked about the value of security in defence,” said Mr Kenneth Lindsay, M.P., Civil Lord of the Admiralty, when replying to the welcome accorded him at a Government luncheon in Parliament House yesterday. “If you talk about security as a national aspiration,” he added, “It is logical to ask what is going to be done about national defence. That, I think, is a problem which presents itself to the self-governing Dominions. That is what collective security means. May I leave it at that? r do not think it necessary to dot the •’s and cross the t’s.”

Referring to the position in Europe today, Mr Lindsay emphasised the need of maintaining the system of free Democracy and freedom of election. That system alone dignified the men who were elected and the nation that elected them. Mr Lindsay said he found in Germany that leadership was the predominant principle and free election was derided as being weak. The movement in Europe was primarily anti-politician. The political system was being lampooned. This was going on also in England and Australia.

Personally, he stood 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 *n the exchange of goods. These were the only safeguards for wages decent standard of living.

“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 th)is sturdy democratic plan. Meanwhile, I am proud to be a humble Minister in one of the greatest agencies fo® peace, the Royal Navy.”