DEFENCE DUTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22603, 16 December 1936, Page 18

DEFENCE DUTY

DOMINION'S SHARE UNANIMITY WITH BRITAIN LARGER POPULATION NEEDED REVIEW BY HON. W. E. BARNARD [nr TELEGRAPH —IVRKSS ASSOCIATION"! FALMERSTON NORTH. Tuesday " There is no need for defence leagues to show the Government its duty. I have every reason to believe that there is complete unanimity between the British and New Zealand Governments. As far as the British Government is concerned, we are doing our duty in this country." This assurance was given by the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House of Representatives, at a large gathering of Rotary Club members and business men last night in the course of an address on immigration and defence. He said that the question of adequate defence was one with which the Government was sincerely concerned. In the coming year there might be a definite indication given of the Government's view of the defence of NewZealand's soil. No one was entirely satisfied with the existing means of defence. Nations Cramped For Room " It may not be true that God is on the side of the big battalions, but there is 11c. question that virile people have an advantage over people wlip have grown old and stale," Mr. Barnard continued. " The British nation is anything but a spent force, and is not on the down grade, but no nation that is to be permanently prosperous can ignore the injunction to be iruitful and multiply. " It. has been agreed for many years that our right, to occupy New Zealand ancLto keep out others is dependent 011 thfi strength of the British .Navy. In the last few years it has become apparent that if Britain were to be heavily involved in Europe and Asia, or in Europe alone, we could not rely 011 the naval arm as in the past. " The strong nations complain that they are cramped for room, and aro looking around with envy," he said. " We' might spend millions yearly on defence, but we should not thereby make our country safe if we did not build up our population. The Prime Minister, the. Right Hon. M. J. Savage, has declared that population is the best form of defence. 1 support him heartily. " While we must see to defence as far as is reasonable and practical, it is our clear duty to ourselves and to the outside world to fill up our vacant spaces and not remain a ' dog in the manger.' We are still free to choosn whom we shall admit, but it may not remain for our children and grandchildren to choose also." Immigration Plans Mr. Barnard added his personal view of defence precautions, and said that they were essential for home defence. He did not favour, and he believed that "the women of New Zealand were of the same opinion, sending an expeditionary force to some remote part of the world. , At another stage of his address, Mr. Barnard, in referring to immigration, said that a large scale plan was a move that was likely to succeed under a Radical Government, rather than under a, Government with Conservative tendencies. Migration on a worth-while scalp would mean preparedness for Government interference in industries, and also a certain amount of control. There was a price to be paid for pursuing a large scale policy, and he looked hopefully to the present Government, Mr. Barnard concluded. Not much consideration had yet been possible, but the very urgency of the matter demanded that it should be faced at no distant date. In the meantime it was necessary to educate the population to the urgency of the matter, and conduct research in efforts to secure a formula.