Mr Coates on National Defence

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1938, Page 3

Mr Coates on National Defence

“The question of defence is one that must be lifted out of its present backward condition, although I don’t think the Government realises it,” said the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, M.P., when addressing a meeting at Titoki. The policy of the National Party, he said, was to increase the strength of the Dominion’s forces from 9000 as at present to 20,000 men and to obtain an additional cruiser.

Only 6000 at Present. “We are definitely and inseparably wrapped up 'with the British Empire, and where would we be if New Zealand’s trade routes were cut off?” the (speaker inquired. “Where are we > heading for at the present time, with one nation and another spreading, and the borders of Germany and of Japan must be pushed out as sure as night turns into day.” Mr Coates stated that the Government considered 9000 was sufficient for defence measures, and yet there Was still a shortage of approximately SOOO men from the Government’s estimate of 9000, Trained Men Essential. Internal defence for the Dominion required a force of 20,000 fully equipped and trained men, said Mr Coates. He said the Government believed that the air force was the principal measure ef defence, but he said that although an air force was necessary, he did not believe it was any more necessary than trained men for the handling of machine-guns. It was also up to the young women to take up this activity in the roles of nurses, clerk's, 'and transport workers, etc. He thought, if the necessity arose, the Dominion’s young people Would respond unhesitatingly.