NATIONAL DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23648, 4 November 1938, Page 11

NATIONAL DEFENCE

GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Nov. 2. During the debate in the House of Lords last night on Lord Strabolgi’s motion in favour of an independent committee of inquiry into the state of the national defences, with particular reference to air raid precautions, support for the establishment of a Ministry of National Service and a Ministry of Supply was forthcoming from Lord Swinton and other Government members. Following a statement by Lord Zetland, dissatisfaction was expressed by Lord Balfour and Lord Stonehaven, and Lord Balfour said that if the motion was pressed to a division, and subject to any further Government statement, he would vote for the motion. Lord Zetland in his statement said the Government was determined to take the utmost advam tage of the experieice that it had derived from the recent emergency. It had already taken steps to review the preparations for defence. The appointment of an independent committee would only result in duplication. In the recent emergency the defence plans worked with extreme smoothness and success. He admitted there were weaknesses and deficiencies, but it must be remembered that they were prepar ig against a form of war of which they had had no experience. The Government’s attitude to the national service register was that it was not at present prepared compulsorily to register every person in the country, but it had a voluntary scheme which was about to be put into operation first. If the Government found that on a voluntary basis it was unable, either so far as industry or service was concerned, to obtain the required results it wbuld certainly be prepared to take another view.