The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1939. The Call To Defence

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1939, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1939. The Call To Defence

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

THOSE who heard the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, appeal to the people of New Zealand to rally to the defence of their country could not but have been deeply impressed by the solemn manner in which the appeal was made. There are occasions when an apparent change of heart, the result of emotionalism,, does not affect the average hearer. But, when it is ; obvious that the change has been brought about by the stern realisation of facts, the resultant effect is a very different matter.

That, we think, is the case so far as Mr Savage’s broadcast appeal is concerned. There is nobody who would charge the Prime Minister with the possession of a militaristic or pugnacious spirit. He is a man of peace, whose ideal is a world in which nations might live on friendly terms with one another. However, he has been forced to the conclusion that in an armed world an unarmed people cannot but go the way which unarmed nations in the past have gone when attacked by those possessed of superior armaments and moved by sinister ambition.

That, unfortunately, is the position in which the world finds itself to-day. Mr Savage made this unmistakably clear when he declared that all the efforts to promote social security in New Zealand would be an idle dream impossible of fulfilment if national security were not first established.

National security cannot be achieved without the wholehearted support of a prepared people, Mr Savage was able to point to a commendable degree of progress in the armament of New Zealand on land, sea and in the air, but he very rightly emphasised that armaments without men to operate them would be of little avail. He therefore called for volunteers to fill the various branches of the defence forces which he outlined.

The appeal has secured the cordial endorsement of all sections of the community, and, though it is felt by many that it would have been better if the Government had instituted a system of compulsory military training, there is none who does not hope that the appeal for voluntary response by the manhood of the Dominion will be amply justified.

The voluntary military system is on its last trialf as it may be taken for granted that if the present appeal does not produce the hoped for result, there will be no alternative, even to a Government pledged to anti-militarism, to introduce compulsory service.

The call to the manhood of the Dominion has been made from a high plane. Will they reach that plane? It is sincerely to be hoped that they will do so.

The appeal made by the Prime Minister cannot but stir deeply all who are interested not only in the welfare of the little country in which they are fortunate enough to be placed, but of the British Empire, without whose support New Zealand would quickly become a victim to any aggressor. This was emphasised by the Prime Minister who, while explaining that the call for volunteers was simply to provide defenders of New Zealand, declared that the Dominion defence must be regarded as an element in Empire defence. These are truths which do not need to be laboured.

Every individual who gives the slightest thought to the subject must' realise the truth of this argument. New Zealanders must defend their country or run a grave risk of losing it. It is very cheering to hear from the Prime Minister, who obviously must possess information not available to the man in the street, that there is at the moment no greater danger of general war than there has been for some time past, but there remains the ominous fact, also emphasised by Mr Savage, that in the present state of international stress there is no reason to believe that an attack as sudden as that of an earthquake may not be made upon this favoured land. Therefore no further appeal should be required to rouse the manhood of the Dominion to a realisation of their duty in regard to this matter, which is vital to the welfare of themselves and all who are dependent upon them.

It is good to hear that substantial response is being made to the appeal for volunteers. It would indeed be a matter for rejoicing if there should go forth to the world at large an announcement that the eligible manhood of this country had volunteered to the extent of 100 per cent. That, of course, is too much to hope for, but everybody—and especially those who favour the voluntary system as against the compulsory system of military service—should do all possible to ensure the success of a movement which is above party politics and sectional differences.