DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22961, 12 February 1938, Page 17

DEFENCE

Sir, —The cover of Jupiter's Pandora box containing grave international crises is ominously and steadily opening, and may fully do so at any moment now. Are we doing anything to safeguard this country from invasion as far as we possibly can, and to repel this invader or make him think twice before venturing to approach these shores, which at present, seem to me to be ready to fall into his mouth like au over-ripe plum? To do everything we possibly can is only of a nature of a national insurance in this respect, instead of heaping up a national burden for coming generations by bringing into being insensate railways, one of which was condemned by private enterprise 50 years ago, before the advent of motorcars and good roads. Even now it has been found necessary to nuture some of our best paying lines of railway by restricting private enterprise on parallel lines, of communication. As a layman, I would consider that hornet nests of bombing planes at aerodromes placed suitably in New Zealand would act as our most feasible deterrent to an invading enemy. The money spent on Public Works would be better so employed and our youth trained to defend their country. This is also to their physical advantage and financially so even if it means paying them what men are getting for useless works. But of course this would not square to the advantage of the present Administration. . Sane Imperialist.