“We Have To Go Right Into The Question Of Defence”

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1939, Page 8

“We Have To Go Right Into The Question Of Defence”

Mr. SaVage

[Per Press Association. Copyright ] WELLINGTON, This Day. THE CONCLUSION OF THE DAY’S PROCEEDINGS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. SAVAGE, SAID THE CAUCUS WAS TO MEET AGAIN TODAY, AND PRESENT INDICATIONS WERE THAT IT WOULD FINISH TODAY. “There was general agreement that we have to go right into the question of defence,” said Mr. Savage. “It is only just a matter of method. I want to get the general mind of the membersof the caucus on defence, and of the read we should go,” said Mr. Savage yesterday, when referring to the caucus of members of the Parliamentary Labour Party, at which defence was the main subject discussed. Mr. Savage said the caucus had expressed its general approval of what the country had done for the defence of the country, and also of its action in asking for the Pacific Defence Conference, which was attended by representatives of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. There were in the Parliamentary Labour Party a number of returned men who had some knowledge of defence, and their opinions were worth something. “After hearing their views, I will be freer and better able-i to express the general opinion of Labour on this question when I make my appeal for support for the Territorial movement and for fit men up to a certain age to do their part for the defence of this country.