DOMINION EFFORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23156, 30 September 1938, Page 10

DOMINION EFFORTS

MR. SAY AGE'S VIEW NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN ■ i [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Thursday "What we have done for defence is not a matter to boast about. It is just ono of the things it is necessary to do, especially at a time when the world seems to have taken leave of its senses," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in his speech in the Town Hall to-night. "And, by the way, I am pleased to say that the situation in Europe is better to-night than, it was yesterday, or even to-day. If we don't have to use our means of defence or fire a shot at anybody I'll say, thank God for that." (Applause.) Leading up to these remarks, Mr. Savage said that, while tho Government had not travelled as fast in tho matter of defence as some of its opponents would like, it had travelled three times as fast as they had. It had mechanised the Territorial I'orce and had created something in the way of an Air Eorce. Group-Captain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane had been in New Zealand for the past few years in charge of that work, and he had done a thoroughly good job. Appreciation of information concerning the international situation that has been received by tho New Zealand Government during the crisis is expressed in a message which the New Zealand Government has sent by cablegram to the British Government. In a statement issued to-day the Prime Minister announced that the following message had been sent to England: — "His Majesty's Government in New Zealand greatly appreciates the very full and detailed information on the international situation that has been supplied to it during the crisis. It would be grateful if the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom could be informed that the New Zealand Government most earnestly supports his continued and determined efforts for the peace of Europe and the world, which it sincerely trusts will be crowned with success."

SINGAPORE BASE LAND FORCE POSSIBLE DOMINION AND AUSTRALIA CANDIDATE'S STATEMENT [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] ASHBURTON, Thursday Reference to the international crisis was made by Mr. T. D. Burnett, National candidate for Temuka, in a political address at Tinwald last night. He said that in the event of war New Zealand would not be asked to send an expeditionary force to Europe, but to join Australia in sending a land force to guard Singapore. He urged the making of rifle shooting as much a national pastime as football, and the training of women and girls in nursing.