DEFENCE NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 15

DEFENCE NEEDS

REGISTRATION URGED

NATIONAL MOBILISATION

BUSINESS MEN'S VIEWS

A declaration in favour of national registration with a view to national mobilisation in time of emergency was mad« by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday. During a discussion following the receipt of an invitation from the New Zealand Defence League to appoint a representative to it from the chamber, members expressed themselves strongly in favour of compulsory military preparation for all classes.

After stating that the voluntary system of military training now in force had altogether failed to achieve even the limited number of 9000 territorials, the Defence League urged the immediate importance of adopting measures to provide the country with a force capable of withstanding not only a raid but also an attack on a •larger scale with the object of more permanent occupation. IPailure of Voluntary System Mr. A. A. Ross said the territorial system had obviously failed. It was doubtful if New Zealand could muster at tlie present time more than 3000 effective fighting men.

Mr. J. A. C. Allum said he did not like the idea of older men talking about compulsory military training when they thought of it as applying only to the youth of the country. Young men could not be blamed for not volunteering for training when the sacrifices entailed were made so apparent by tho social freedom of those who would not enlist.

"New Zealand's conditions are such," continued Mr. Allum, "that if we are going to have trouble wo will all be in it. If compulsory military training is introduced the older men should make iit clear that they too are ready to help. This is the only way of dealing with the matter effectively." Returned Men's Concern Mr. J. R. Blackett said that as a former officer in New Zealand's military forces during the Great War he knew that the Dominion's defences were giving old soldiers a great deal of concern. In such a small country as New Zealand everybody had to help. Every trade and commercial undertaking could be of national value in an emergency and it was important that preparations should be made to obtain their assistance and also that they should be trained to the best ways of giving it. The old soldiers were just as willing as they ever had been to start off again and do the job, but they must have the support of the younger men.

A resiolution was carried stating that the chamber was in favour of national registration with a view to national mobilisation in time of emergency. It was also decided to appoint Mr. Blackett as the chamber's representative on the New Zealand Defence League.