DEFENCE NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23175, 22 October 1938, Page 15

DEFENCE NEEDS

JOINT ACTION URGED AUSTRALIA AND DOMINION EXPERT COMMITTEE SUGGESTED IMPORTANCE OF CO-OPERATION Tho need for constant close co-opera-tion between Now Zealand and Australia on defence questions was urged yesterday by Sir Charles Marr, a former Minister of Defence in the Federal Government and still a member of tho Commonwealth Parliament, who arrived nt Auckland by tho Awatea from Sydney on a short business visit to Now Zealand. Sir Charles predicted that within six months Australia

would have decided to reintroduce \uiiversal military training.

It was fully realised in Australia, said Sir Charles, that tho Empire was the life-blood of both New Zealand and Australia. Each country would Btand or fall with Great Britain and her war must also be tho war of the Dominion and tho Commonwealth. Similarly, Australia would ahvavs be quick to aid New Zealand if the latter were attacked, and New Zealand would be just as ready to respond if the need were Australia's. Joint Understanding Because of this, and because in the event of war Great Britain would Lave her bauds so full closer at liome that she might not be able to give New Zealand and Australia'the protection she would otherwise extend, it was very sensible that the two countries should have a joint understanding upon the policy to bo pursued. Sir Charles suggested that a defence cominitteo representative of both countries could do much for their Srotection. Even if tho best means jf efending each differed, such a committeo of experts could bring about a very valuable understanding and co-operation between tho two countries.

It was time, too, said Sir Charles, that some of tho trade differences between the Dominion and the Commonwealth should be dropped. Ho thought it absurd, for instance, that at a time when importations of New potatoes into New South Wales would be most welcome because of a seasonal shortage there, no such importations could be made. It was just as ridiculous that New Zealand could not import Now South Wale 3 oranges.

Sir Charles said that on an averago he made three visits a year to New Zealand and he had found it so difficult to obtain an adequate supply of oranges in many parts that ho had started the practice, when he left a city, of taking his oq» supply with him.

Visits by Ministers Because lie felt New Zealand and Australia would find closer co-opera-tion in defence and trade matters particularly valuable, Sir Charles said it was also his opinion that more visits should be exchanged between members of the Governments of both countries. It was frequently the case in New Zealand and Australia that when a Ministerial party made a visit to Europe, for instance, that the other party in the House and many citizens as well immediately began an outcry about the expenditure of public money. If ho had his way, however, said Sir Charles, every member of a Government would he sent abroad to visit as many countries as he could and discover for himself not only how serious an international situation might bo but also how the people in other countries lived in comparison with those in his own land.

MR. SAVAGE'S COMMENT INTERCHANGE OF OPINION [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Friday "There is any amount of room for better understanding between the two countries," said the Prime Minister when invited to-night to comment on the suggestion of Sir Charles Marr that a defence committee should bo formed representative of the Commonwealth and the Dominion Governments. "No doubt Australia should know moro of what we are doing and we should know more about what Australia is doing. An interchange of opinion is very advisable, particularly so in matters relating to defence." .