DEFENCE POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23333, 27 October 1937, Page 10

DEFENCE POLICY

ALL ASPECTS EMBRACED EFFECT OF ' NEW LEGISLATION SAFEGUARDING DOMINION'S SECURITY (Fbom Oub Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. The claim that the legislation would provide'the machinery for the adequate development of a defence policy embracing all aspects of the question was made by the Under-secretary for Housing (Mr J. A. Lee) during the second reading discussion on the Army Board Bill in the House of Representatives to-day.

"We live in a world where it is no good trying to avoid unpleasant facts," said Mr Lee. " While many of us may believe that the ideal world is one without armament, nevertheless the conditions of our life are determined not only by our own aspirations, but by the actions of other people as well. Because of this the Government is compelled to take steps to safeguard New Zealand's security and to ensure that if a crisis occurs—of course we all hope it will not occur —then the manhood of New Zealand is not left defenceless." s Mr Lee said that in the discussion reference had been made to the result of the Australian elections and the influence that the question of defence had had on the campaign. He said that he had a feeling that had the Labour Party "in another part of the world" taken the same attitude to collective security as had been followed by the party in New Zealand the other party would have made a better appeal to the electors. The Government of New Zealand had given sincere assistance to the collective ideal of the League of Nations and was prepared to risk its life as well as its breath in defence of what it believed to be worthwhile.

"This Bill achieves something that is necessary in respect to all our forces," Mr Lee said. " I think that we will all agree here that in a democratic country a general or an admiral cannot have the final," responsibility in the defence policy; Defence is' a civil question when it comes to policy. "It has also become necessary that the Air Force should be advanced to a position where it has an equal partnership with the other branches of the defence forces. This Bill, I am satisfied, is "a move in the right direction in the control of defence and the development of a policy."