Defence League Value Doubted By Labour M.P.

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1939, Page 6

Defence League Value Doubted By Labour M.P.

[Special to "Northern Advocate ”] WHAKATANE, This Day. Mr A. G, Hultquist, M.P., expressed doubts as to the value of the New Zealand Defence League at a meeting in Whakatane, after addresses had been given by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell and Colonel H. E. Barrowclough on the international situation. Before the chairman, Mr J. J. Cliff McCullough, put a motion to the meeting, calling for the formation of a branch of the League, Mr Hultquist s'aid he thought it only fair to say that he did not feel that the carrying of a resolution to form a branch of the league would necessarily do all that the speakers had thought it would.

“I have full confidence in the Government’s defence policy, 'and believe that Mr Savage’s public statements recently were sincere,” said Mr Hultquist. ‘‘Furthermore, I say that I have got confidence in the public, and I believe that the men and women will step on It when the appeal is made to them.”

Mr Tan Gow said it was hardly necessary for him to draw attention to some of the fallacies which lay behind Mr Hultquist’s words.

“Sir Andrew made it quite clear, and Colonel Barrowclough made it equally clear, that it was most necessary that men should be trained and that the whole intention was to conscript or compel men to take the necessary training,” added Mr Gow. “The conscription Sir Andrew mentioned was not a conscription to send men into the field to fight an enemy.”