DEFENCE CONSCIOUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23321, 13 October 1937, Page 10

DEFENCE CONSCIOUS

CHANGE IN PUBLIC OPINION NAVAL OFFICER’S VIEWS (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, October 12. *1 dare say that the certain amount of progress that has occurred is due to the Dominion as a whole, for the general public is realising the need for defence,” said Rearadmiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond, Officer Commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, after carrying out his annual inspection of the Auckland Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve to-night. Rear-admiral Drummond remarked upon the improvement apparent in the unit and on the 'atmosphere of keenness. “I think-that everybody throughout the world has come to the conclusion that the only way of maintaining peace is by preparing for war,” Rear-admiral Drummond continued. “I feel that the fact that the general public has realised this makes it considerably easier for a good many of you to get away.” Rear-admiral Drummond said that when he made his first inspection of the division in 1935 he was disappointed and did not think it was up to a very high standard, but last year he saw a very considerable improvement, and was glad to say that this year that progress had certainly been extraordinarily well maintained. There was a different atmosphere altogether and there was an extra good muster which was complimentary to the commanding officer