DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20625, 25 July 1930, Page 14

DEFENCE.

Sir, —I read with interest "New Zea land's" letter in Tuesday's Herald. He says: "Our territorial army is abolished in a night, and not one word of protest from the people." Like "New Zealand, I have been surprised at the lack of public objection to the high-handed action of the Minister of Defence There seems to be two reasons for this very apparent lack of interest. Firstly, the blow fell so suddenly that sound-minded people have not yet recovered from the shock. Secondly, there is a section of the people who are too narrow-minded to realise that nothing short of a national disaster has been perpetrated by an unstable Government in order to leceive the support of the Labour Party. The plausible excuse put forward is that something like £200,000 will be saved. But what of this saving when it is compared with what will lie lost ? It is hardly likely that the Minister of Defence thought of our national prestige! What do we owe our Empire? What do we owe our girls? Can we speak of such debts in terms of £ s d ? The only payment that can be offered and accepted is duty! But here we have a Government allegedly representing the people refusing to allow us the right of offering our ser vice! As a territorial, I confidently state that if a volunteer force were formed 95 per cent, of the present territorials would volunteer without pay. It would lie a good thing for New Zealand's good name if the Minister of Defence remem bered Nelson's words, "England expects every man to do his duty."

C. J. Harms