NEW, ZEALAND'S DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 19

NEW, ZEALAND'S DEFENCE

Sir, —The Government will fail in its duty if it omits to note the remarks of Sir Jas. Steel-Maitland and the action of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce regarding tho propscd Dominion steel industry. There is no law but that of the jungle to-day in Central Europe, and it is possible that, unless checked, it might overwhelm tho enlightened democracies of Switzerland, Holland and the Scandinavian States, and the security of all these countries vitally concerns our Empire. Britain alone is spending millions to ensure her national safety—and none of the self-governing Dominions are co-operat-ing fully in the larger sphere of Imperial defence. The United States, already a strong Naval Power and not so far directly threatened, is taking no chances and is busy developing a heavier "punch." Can the units of our Empire do less? The first and most obvious duty of any Government if» adequate defence. Onekaka's development can wait—for the time being it docs not matter —but £5,000,000 wisely spent now on defence will mean our continued existence as a free, selfrespecting member of the British Commonwealth. K.H.