NATIONAL DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23075, 28 June 1938, Page 13

NATIONAL DEFENCE

Sir, —It is a very sad thing to contemplate the terrible apathy of the people of New Zealand toward the question of defence. The newspapers, I will admit, have done their best to rouse public opinion to an appreciation of our serious position. There is no excuse for this deplorable state of affairs, but at the risk of being accused of political bias (the old cry) I think it must be agreed that the Government has given us no lead and inevitably forces us to the conclusion that it is not greatly interested, having too many other fish to fry. Mr. Savage possibly considers that his reply to Lord Rothermere's warning was very cutting, but it does not inspire very much confidence in those of us who appreciate the potential danger we are in. The condition of world affairs is such that anything may happen at any time. The British Government and the people are making the most stupendous efforts to reinstate their defences after they had been allowed to fall to such a low ebb that Britain had almost ceased to count in world affairs. Australia. South Africa and even Canada nave followed suit, realising the magnitude of Great Britain s responsibilities. It seems to me that New Zealand is the only Dominion that is content to shelter behind the Mother Country, although we speak very loudly and bravely at Geneva and soundly rate Great Britain for not preventing by force Italy's rapo of Abyssinia. Great Britain has told us plainly enough on more than one occasion that if war breaks out she will probably not be in a position to defend all outlying parts of the Empire. Wo have read of the ghastly cruelties against non-combatants and civilians being perpetrated in other parts of the world and that in some cases no prisoners are taken (a significant fact), yet we persist in living in a fools' paradise, apparently expecting that nothing like this would ever happen to such a superior people as we are. God grant that such agonies may never come to New Zealand, but the only way to prevent this with any degree of surety is to prepare effective resistance. Is that being done ?• It is late to start. Great Britain cannot supply our needs. She is having to purchase aeroplanes from the United States. Even if she could, a strong air force will not alone avail. I contend that a land force of 9000 "men in a country of over 100,000 square miles is nothing more than a nucleus, though I doubt if modern arms and ammunition could bo found for more at the present time. In my opinion a strong fleet of submarines round our coasts is necessary to keep off a hostile navy that might take the opportunity to visit us if Great Britain was fighting for her life in Europe, and also a strong land force to repel invaders who might set foot on our soil. Is it too late to make a start? Citizen.