DEFENCE POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 14

DEFENCE POLICY

COLONELS' MANIFESTO

REMARKS BY MR. J. A. LEE

[by telegraph—press association] PALMERSTON NORTH. Thursday

The * recent statement on defence published over the signatures of four senior officers of the Territorial Force was the subject of a reference by Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., in an address last night.' , . Mr. Lee said it would be interesting to know whether the advocacy of four colonels was actuated by the belief that the time had arrived when the military regulations should be dispensed with and a new system initiated whereby every member of the force would be entitled to publicly criticise his superiors. The nature of the defence force rendered it necessary that at no time should members be allowed to engage in a controversy. If the colonels desired to become politicians they had the privilege of resigning and delivering political speeches, Mr. Lee said. He wanted to ask; the colonels whether they thought the privilege of engaging in a political controversy in the citizen army should- be accorded all ranks, from private to general. Mr. Lee said that during the last few years the world had been slipping inevitably to war and no one could deny that democracy had to be protected to-day. The Hon. A. Hamilton had stated that he would secure someone from Britain to reorganise our defence forces. While much of technical value could be gained bv bringing to New Zealand on loan officers who had some knowledge of modern military equipment, it should be fundamental of the New Zealand defence force that it should be officered and developed from New Zealand soil. There was no need in New Zealand for a stupendous local force. Probably the best expeditionary force New _ Zealand could despatch would be an air -force. There was need for greater skill in the personnel rather than for a greater personnel.

COMPULSORY TRAINING OTAGO FARMERS' ADVOCACY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNBDIN, Thursday The principle of compulsory military training was approved by the_ annual conference of the Otago provincial council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, when a remit urging the Government to introduce nuch a system to embrace youths from the age of 17 to 21 was 1 carried unanimously.