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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23154, 28 September 1938, Page 14

NO CONSCRIPTION

POSITION IN DOMINION SERVICE OVERSEAS PURELY VOLUNTARY BASIS [BY TKLKGUAI'H —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NAPIER, Tuesday An assurance that there would be no compulsion in the recruiting of men in the Dominion for overseas service was given by the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who said be spoke for the Government when discussing Now Zealand's defences in the light of possible consequences of a European crisis. "The only likely threat to New Zealand's safety in the event of war would be from sudden raids by warships, probably equipped with aeroplanes, said Mr. Barnard. "Whether that proves so or not, New Zealand, as par of the Empire, will co-operate to the full if the Empire is attacked. Change in Situation "The position is entirely different from 1914. It is not possible to-day to send away a great body of men. In 1914 Japan was our friend and next time she may not be. "If it becomes advisable to send men away they will go a* volunteers, and there certainly will be no compulsion so far as this Government is concerned. It seems that it is no longer to do as we did between 1914 and 1918, and send large bodies of troops to the ends of the earth." Local Defence Measures

Mr. Barnard added that the New Zealand Government in the field of naval improvement had done everything recommended to it by the supreme naval the Britisn Admiralty. At the same .time extensive reorganisation of military requirements, including the provision of strong coastal defences, had also been undertaken, and at the moment energetic steps were being taken to bring up to minimum strength a territory force designed to serve as a nucleus ot a defensive land force. AID TO BRITAIN NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION STATEMENT BY MR. NASH [by TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Tuesday "If Germany or any other country smashes the United Kingdom they .will smash us too and so we will fit in at all times to help the Mother Country, said the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, when touching on defence in the course of his address at the Empire Theatre at Pargaville to-night. The Minister said there was only one way in which world peace could be achieved and that was by collective security. Therefore the only solution was a properly constituted League of Nations, which would provide that in the event of one country attacking another, the nations would join together and make the battle of one the battle of all.

ALL RESOURCES TO HELP ASSURANCE BY MINISTER [from our own correspondent] TUAKAU, Tuesday An assurance that New Zealand would be right behind Britain in the event of war was given by the Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, in his address at Tuakau. He referred to the fact that the European situation was causing a great deal of worry and anxiety, and said that deep was tlu hope that the efforts being made for peace would be effective. If the. worst should come to the worst and Britain was involved, New Zealand would be right behind Britain the moment that happened, and the Government would be prepared to call on and utilise all resources to help. All were hoping, however, that the need would not come.