DEFENCE LIAISON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23996, 20 June 1941, Page 6

DEFENCE LIAISON

; A suggestion made in the Federal ! House of Representatives by the Labour leader, .Mr. Curtin, that Australia and New Zealand should exchange High Commissioners to further their mutual interests in defence drew from Mr. Menzies the information that the point was discussed while he was in this country. Some form of permanent consultation has been mentioned before, but without much positive result. In one way this question is less important than it might have been, since transport across the Tasman can, when necessary, be reduced to hours instead of days. However, if the presence in each country of a permanent representative from the other, specially charged with the duty of a defence liaison officer, can develop co-operation between them, no time should be spent in talking about the appointments. They should be made. The common interests of the two in defence should not need to be argued. A map of these seas ought to be a sufficient demonstration that countries with a similar heritage to safeguard, with destinies that must be the same, situated as Australia and New Zealand are, must march together or halve their own chances of safety. A deeper appreciation of this, and practical steps to express it, are needed. Given sufficient earnestness to achieve the end, the means should not need much dis-j cussing. In other words, granted that Australia and New Zealand must work together for the defence of both, the important thing is to set about the task vigorously, not to waste valuable time over machinery or preliminary details.