DOMINION'S DEFENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 12

DOMINION'S DEFENCES

VITAL ASPECTS DISCUSSED STIMULATING RECRUITING MORE ATTRACTIVE CONDITIONS DEBATE ON ARMY BOARD BILL (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. The defence of New Zealand and Its relation to the defence of the Empire were discussed at some length during the second reading debate on the Army Board Bill in the House of Representatives today, The suggestion was made by several speakers that more attractive conditions should be introduced to stimulate recruiting in New Zealand, and interesting views on the strengthening of the Dominion's defences were contributed by members Who served in the last war. " The importance of this measure at this time particularly transcends party politics," said Mr J. A. Hargest (Opposition, Awarua). "Members of the Opposition have shown their willingness to assist in making the defence forces of the Dominion effective and modern, and would like to see the Government set out just what amounts it is prepared to spend to this end. The Government could then enlist the co-operation of the Opposition in finding out the best possible way to spend that money. If this country wer« involved in war we would be no longer critical of the Government. I for one would be prepared to offer my services here or on the field if it became necessary. That is the view of everyone here, I believe." Three Vital Aspects. Mr Hargest emphasised that in the defence of New Zealand there were three vital aspects which had to be given consideration. They were the League of Nations, which he said was still playing an important part in maintaining peace, the British Empire, in the defence system of which the Dominion was linked, and the defence system of New Zealand itself. New Zealand would not only have to be prepared to defend herself in the event of aggression, but would also have to contribute to the common defence of the Empire because of the inter-dependence of the units of the Empire. He was glad to see that the Prime Ministers of New Zealand, Australia and of other parts of the Empire recognised that inter-dependence in defence. Assenting, as New Zealand did, to that principle, it was the Dominion's task to get an adequate defence system for its own shores, and then create a force that might be a striking power where it was needed in some other part of the Empire.

ROOM FOR SURPLUS POPULATION

Mr C. L. Carr (Govt., Timairu) said there was need for a little less trepidation than was expressed from time to time. The need to make room for a surplus population was one of three reasons often given for the likelihood of some nation seeking territorial expansion. The other two were the need for raw materials and the need for markets, but a nation did not need to fonnuer a country to pooulate it to-day, althouah in the nineteenth r" Q "tury that might have been true. There was less occasion than might be imagined for becoming apprehensive in those matters. An attack on New Zealand would be virtually m attack on the Empire, and if any ration or groun of nations decided on pi attack on the Empire it was rfjt that they would begin on Mew Zealand. Territorial Officers The suggestion that the Minister should give consideration to the inclusion on the Army Board of a Writorial officer was made by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago). Something should be done, he said, to encourage and raise the status of the territorial officers, as they were the life and soul of the organisation throughout the country. A perusal of the defence report made very sorry reading, Mr Bodkin said. The fact >that the voluntary forces were reduced to 7900 was regrettable, and he asked whether sufficient had been done to encourage the enrolment of men. If the Minister were to initiate a drive and ask for the co-orieration of the Returned Soldiers' Association and members of local body organisations he would be surprised at the measure of support he 'would get. Planned System of Defence " I feel that there is not the danger of invasion of this country which many peoole seem to believe," said Mr H. M. Christie (Govt., Waipawa). Mr Christie said he welcomed the Bill, because it was a step toward a planned system of defence. Mistakes had been made in the Great War because of the tendency to be rather conservative and to adopt sparingly the advice of technicians in civil work. There were many people even to-day who were- inclined to. pin their faith to a particular branch of the service, and in that he believed there was a danger. No doubt the Minister would see to it that there was the greatest possible co-ordination between all the units. Mr Christie said he was convinced that if the call to arms ever came again New Zealand would rally just as splendidly as it had done in August, 1914. DEPENDENCE ON THE NAVY If the British navy is swept from the seas, then the British Empire can say ' good-night nurse,' " said Mr W. P. Endean (Opposition, Parnell). Mr Endean emphasised his opinion that no matter what might be thought in some quarters, the British Navy was still the first line of defence for the Empire. " I know the League of Nations is a wonderful ideal, and we are all behind the principle of collective security," Mr Endean added, "but if these are to work there must be sufficient nations behind them with an adequate fighting force to impose their opinions on the aggressors if the necessity arises. We must face the fact that the League has failed on several occasions, and the greatest force to stop war in the future will be a combination of nations with the necessary material and fighting forces to deal with the aggressors." New Zealand ers' Initiative ■The fact that he had been told to forget practically all he had learned in the territorials when he joined up with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in 1914, was recalled by Mr E. P. Meachen (Govt., Wairau). He gaid that men who had lived in the

bush were just as efficient after four days' training as those who had had previous experiences in the territorial forces. " Forming fours did not storm the heights of Gallipoli," said Mr Meachen, " nor did it lead the way to the Somme. It was initiative which enabled the New Zealand troops to do these things. It was the result of having lived a clean life in a good, clean country that gave our soldiers that spirit of selfreliance which enabled them to act quickly on their own initiatve." Council of Defence The suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition should be appointed to the Council of Defence was made by Mr G. W. Forbes (Opposition, Hurunui). Mr Forbes said that defence was above party considerations. The Leader of the Opposition was the representative of a large number of people in the country, and his appointment to the council, along with other civilian members, would bring about that co-ordination of the civil population that was so desirable in any measures taken for the defence of the country. Second Reading Carried Other speakers were Messrs T. H. McCombs (Govt., Lyttelton), H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton), H. M. Rush worth (Independent, Bay of Islands), A. S. Richards (Govt., Roskill), H. G. Dickie (Opposition. Patea), W. T. Anderton (Govt., Eden), S. G. Smith (Opposition, New Plymouth), and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr A. Hamilton). The Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) replied to the debate, and the Bill was read a second time.