DOMINION'S DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17475, 20 May 1920, Page 4

DOMINION'S DEFENCE.

NEED .FOR EXPENDITURE.

PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS. ""WAR NOT AT AN END." [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COaEESrONDEKT. J ' WELLINGTON. Wednesday. " We cannot allow this country to go without defence," said the Prime Minister at the annual dinner of the Dental Association to-night. " Defence expenditure is one of the calls that we have get to face. Some people say that we should close down on defence expenditure and trust to the League of Nations. They say that there is not going to be another war for 30 or 40 years. A year or 18 months ago I thought that we might bo able to depend upon the League of Nations. I think it would be a splendid thing if the nations could join together to put an end to war, bi~* X do not like the look of things to-day. " We see to-day two of the most powerful nations in the world, one a member of the league and the other outside, the league, building the largest and most powerful warships the world has ever seen. "They are not building those ships for holidav purposes. I do not want to suggest what those ships are being buiK for. I don't think they are being built to turn against the ships of our Empira. I hope not, and believe not, but they are being built. "You read in the cablegi ar,s the other day that the great Krapp ' 'rks in Germany are employing even larger numbers of now than they employed before the war. What are they doing it for'' There egain I must appeal to your imagination. Much as we all dislike war, and nobody on earth hates war more than I do myself, we must face the fact that war has not come to an end, and that if o\ir Empire is to continue and if we are to retain the freedom we enjoy we rrust be prepared to defend ourselves. Mr. Massey expressed pleasure at the impending arrival in New Zealand as Governor-General of Lord Jelheoe. There was no greater authority on defence, and especially naval defence, than Lord Jellicoe. "I am not here to suggest extra urgent expenditure for defence purposes," added the Prime Minister. "I do not want -o spend a copper more than we need spend, or to interfere with industrial operations any more than we can- help. But I do want to impress upon the people of this country that we must not neglect our duty of dping our share in naval and military defence. I attach a great deal of importance to naval defence, and of course the two branches must go together.'