DEFENCE PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23135, 6 September 1938, Page 15

DEFENCE PLANS

DUTY OF DOMINIONS "AUSTRALIA'S BEGINNING" PRESERVING DEMOCRACIES The defence programme of Australia was described as "a good beginning" by Mr. C. L. .Tones, of Sydney, who arrived by the Aorangi yesterday, in the course of a trip to America. England and Europe. He said the full extent of England's burden seemingly was not appreciated by people in Australia and New Zealand, whose duty it was to prepare themselves and retain some potential power, thus showing the Motherland a spirit of readiness to defend this section of the Empire in the event of conflict.

"I suppose we in New Zealand and Australia have now got into the position of being unable to see the wood for the trees." said Mr. Jones. "Interpreted, this moans, are we playing our part to lieh) England in an emergency to defend our heritage? Defence and population are two great problems confronting our race to-day, and the freedom we now enjoy in democracies can only be preserved if we pay heed to the cardinal national interests. Preparedness now seemed the one way of keeping our freedom."

Mr. Jones, who is accompanied by Mrs. Jones, is chairman of directors of David Jones, Limited. His trip will combine a holiday with some business conferences, including the fostering of tourist travel to Australia on behal r of the Australian National Travel Association, with which he is associated as a board member. Mr. Jones expressed satisfaction at the recent appointment of a permanent representative of the association in Auckland.