DEFENCE NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23262, 3 February 1939, Page 10

DEFENCE NEEDS

EARL BEATTY'S VIEWS CO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN PLACE OF MERCANTILE MARINE [by TELEGItArH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The opinion that from what ho had seen in his short travels the position of weakness in this part of the Empire was something to be regarded with concern by those who livo hero, was expressed by Earl Beatty when replying to a welcome tendered him by the Wellington branch of the Navy League. The league, he said, had a great task in front of it and that was to see that never again should they be placed in the position of the last few years and to see that defence was really, the league's motto. "I see,'' said Earl Beatty, " that Lord Strabolgi made a statement in Australia that if we in England were wiped out you here would have to keep up British traditions. I am not in tho same camp as Lord Strabolgi and I will say first that we in England aro not going to bo knocked out. "A Prize Worth Taking" "Secondly, that if that disaster should happen, you aro a prize worth taking, while 1 am not so sure that our little crowded island is lyorth all that. If one goes we all go. Therefore we must all co-operate and stand together and see that British tradition is kept up, not only on one sido of tho world, but on all sides." Beferring to the importance of the mercantile marine, he said that in all talk of rearmament that was ono of the things the Navy League was trying to push homo to the Government in England, becauso the mercantile marine was not in a strong position. Cruiser Baaes Needed

"It should be one of your aims and objects to press home to your Government, as we are pressing it home to our Government, that that service shall not be negelctcd in the future," he said. Ho did not think the league should be content until there were more bases out hero from which cruisers could operate, and until there were more ships on the New Zealand station.

In England, thanks to the generosity of Lord Nuffield, they had been able to extend the scope of the sea cadet movement, and he wanted to see a strong sea cadet corps throughout New Zealand. ''l believe that would bo one of the best things for the young peoplo of the country," said Earl Bcatty. "We must sco that our young people are imbued with the right spirit of patriotism and service to their country. You have given up compulsory service. Something must take its place to imbue the young people with the idea that they must servo their country voluntarily."