Everybody Must Share In N.Z. and Empire Defence Plans

Northern Advocate, 3 June 1939, Page 8

Everybody Must Share In N.Z. and Empire Defence Plans

-LORD GALWAY [Per Press Association. — Copyright .] AUCKLAND, This Day. WHEN RESPONDING TO A TOAST IN HIS HONOUR AT THE ANNUAL " PRIZE NIGHT OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND YACHT SQUADRON, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. VISCOUNT GALWAY, LAST NIGHT URGED THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR EVERYBODY TO DO HIS OR HER SHARE IN THE PREPARATION OF THE DOMINION AND EMPIRE DEFENCES, BUT ALSO VOICED AN EXPRESSION OF HOPE THAT PRESENT THREATS TO WORLD PEACE WOULD PASS. “I certainly think we may feel.” said Lord Galway, “that with every month that passes, we in the British Empire are becoming stronger and stronger, appreciably more stronger, indeed, than our potential opponents in Europe. I believe that these aggressor nations would probably rely upon lightning blows to strike us down at the very commencement of the war. “If we can hold out for the first few months, then we would in the end be able to survive and come to victory. But the way before us would be thorny and hard, and we would have to put all our energy to the last ounce of our reserves, into trying to save the British Empire, and through the Empire, civilisation.

Hopeful Outlook

“However,” said Lord Galway, “I still think these black clouds will pass if we can hold them hack for eight months or a year, until the end of the European campaigning season is over.

“We have to remember, of course, what the firing of a gun might do. We recently saw what seriousness at- : tended the firing of one shot in Danzig, and in these limes of grave crisis, it cannot be overlooked that one seemingly small happening can start anything, „ but we still hope that common sense will prevail, and we also believe that in Europe there are vast numbers of people who fear the thought of war. The only thing that will preserve peace, however, is to ensure that we are strong enough to maintain it, and I am confident that as one year succeeds another we will have become so strong to this end that the strain will be lifted, and as this happens, and as Singapore comes to her full power for good, the strain will also bo certainly lifted off Australia and this Dominion.

Cannot Lean on Britain.

“But we must take our share in what is being done. We cannot expect England to bear the whole burden. There is no. need for me to tell you what a cblossal strain England’s finances are now undergoing in the cause of peace and the defence of this Empire, and everybody must do their share to assist.

“Surely, we must do this. Surely it is not too much to do when such important things are at stake—the strength and solidarity of the British Empire and the saving of civilisation.”

“li. the worst comes,” Lord Galway added, ‘there must be no square pegs in round holes. Everybody must be used to the best advantage. That is a problem being worked out at the

present, and I feel that when this

problem and others have been solved, we will have an enormous potential strength from New Zealand.”