DEFENCE SYSTEM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 January 1939, Page 7

DEFENCE SYSTEM

AIK PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT IN FUTURE | j Provision for' aerial defence in New ; Zealand had been developing in a j satisfactory way and much more rapid [ development could be expected when j the long-distance bombers on order ! were delivered next spring, the Prime ! Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) | told “The Post” yesterday. There was no difficulty about getting recruits for the Air Force because young'men were naturally interested on flying, but the position of the ground forces was not so satisfactory. There were scores of young men offering for service in the Air Force. Mr Savage said, and there was not likely to be any difficulty about getting a supply of men of the right type as they were required. The air arm in New Zealand had been making good progress, but it had been a big task to prepare for the use of long-distance machines. However, it now appeared certain that the aerodromes would be J ready when the machines were ready | for delivery. “That is the job of the : Minister of Public Works,” he added. ; “and when he tackles a job it goes | through.” | THE TERRITORIAL FORCES 1 Discussing the land forces, Mr Sav- | age said that the position of the Teri ritorials was not a particularly happy ; one. The Minister of Defence (the | Hon. F. Jones) and his officers had I been working to build the Territorial | Force up to peace-time strength, but : they were up against a lack of interest l in the community in general. While [ many employers were making it easy for young men to attend camps, the average civilian took no interest in the Territorials, and the young men were not made to feel that they were doing the right thing. The aim of the Government was to make the country worth defending, and the young men who offered to defend it were worthy of respect. Those who were offereing their services had t l ' be turned from civilians into soldiers, but the work of the Defence Department did not. end there. It was endeavouring to make the soldier into a civilian, because it was realised that while a man offered to defend his country he was also entitled to his share in it. No young man should be asked to sacrifice his future to defend others. I and the Government was doing its best j to see that the young men who trained as soldiers could also train as civilians. When a young man offered his services to make the country safe he deserved to be taught a trade so that he could take his place in the community after h’.s service with the forces was completed. There was no reason why a young man should be handicapped in his civilian career because of military service.