THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 15 April 1939, Page 5

THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

•To The ftlit.irl I Sir—A letter appearing in your paper of the 13th inst. relating to the defence J of New Zealand was indeed startling, i and gives one the impression that the | writer is either badly informed or an I alarmist. No doubt, owing to the tense j situation overseas, we in New Zealand being more or less isolated, have strong nervous fears of being attacked, the i main bogey being the Japs. I would 1 like to inform “Mirza” that there is more being done in New Zealand in making preparations against any forj eign nation than most people are aware ! of. For the past three years we have been under the guidance of experts ir j the defence of New Zealand, and as oui j main line of defence is the air force northing will be neglected in that direction. In regard to the Japanese, there i: nothing to be feared from that quar ter, as Japan has her hands full at the f moment trying to subdue the Chinese, ; which is a lost campaign, and the de- { feat of Japan. It is going to take > Japan years to get on her feet again, j and in the event at any time of Japan [making a drive south to Australia and New Zealand it will be quickly checked by America who is ever keeping a watchful eye on her. I certainly think that a strong naval base at Samoa should be aimed at, and in time we I may see something done in that direc- ! tion. For the present the major troubles are centred around strategic points as shown in a recent issue of "The Mail,” and there will no doubt be a strong move later to wrest these from England and France., which will finally end in a terrible conflict. As I have no desire to enter into any controversy with “Mirza” I will conclude by reassuring him that New Zealand „ will have a capable sea, air, and terri- * torial force when the time comes—l i am, etc., A.Z. ! Nelson, 14th April.