DOMINION DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 10

DOMINION DEFENCE

New Zealand has been distinguished from all the other Dominions in the British House of Commons, because this country alone has announced no definite defence policy. When Mr, Malcolm Mac Donald was asked about Empire activities, he was able to give an answer regarding Canada, Australia and South Africa. He could not speak of what New Zealand proposed to do, because he did not know. According to some estimates of the present situation, the eyes of the world are fixed on this country, watching the outcome of the policies now being applied. Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald's statement rather suggests that the watchers see a land without ideas or plans for defending its own shores should the need arise. Actually this is not the true position. Defence expenditure in New Zealand has been increased from a total of £662,000 in 1933-34 to an estimated total of £955,000 in 1935-36. The increase has been partly on naval and partly on other forms of defence, the proportional rise being the greater in the second instance. Greater attention to the aerial arm has had a good deal to do with the process of increase. In actual fact New Zealand has been rather more mindful, since the war, of responsibilities in defence arising from membership in the Empire than Canada or South Africa. The point of what Mr. Mac Donald has said is that the change of Government in New Zealand has brought a new attitude toward many problems, but as yet there is no definite indication of the way it will affect defence. This country is not bound to disclose what is intended, and is entirely at liberty to do what it will in expanding, contracting or—though this is not conceivable —entirely abolishing the defence system. Yet, with increased activity elsewhere in the Empire, it is natural that some definite pronouncement from New Zealand should be awaited with interest.