DEFENCE MEASURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23859, 13 July 1939, Page 12

DEFENCE MEASURES

UNIVERSAL TRAINING URGED SUPPORT OF BRITISH NAVY GESTURE TO THE EMPIRE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 12. An increase in the contribution by New Zealand towards the support of the British Navy and the adoption of universal military training were two measures advocated by Mr J. M, Alien (Opposition, Hauraki) in his maiden speech in the House of Representatives to-day. He said that if this course were adopted it would be a gesture to the British Empire that would stand the Dominion in good stead in the future. A strongly-defended Empire was the best means of ensuring peace. There was no more serious problem facing the Government than that of defence, Mr Allen said, and none with which members of the general public were more in sympathy. Consideration had to be given to the defence of the British Empire as well as that of these shores, for ultimately the defence of New Zealand might be where the defence of the Empire lay. The British Navy was the first line of defence, and in view of the £630,000,000 to be expended in Britain on armaments, New Zealand should be prepared to offer an increased contribution towards the support of the navy. “If enemy troops attempted to land here, land forces would be required to meet them,” Mr Allen said, in advocating universal training for home defence. “To raise such a force a system of universal service is necessary. Universal service is more democratic than the voluntary system, and it is the duty of all young people to be prepared to defend their country. The British -authorities have adopted the universal system, because they realise that they were at a disadvantage in the last war owing to the voluntary method. All the best men and the best brains went away first, and the British nation was then at a disadvantage when the necessity for reorganisation arose in the later stages of the war.” EXCELLENT RESULTS GOVERNMENT’S MEASURES DEFENDED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 12. A reply to Opposition criticism of the Government’s defence policy was made by Mr E. P. Meachen (Govt., Marlborough) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Members of the Opposition considered, Mr Meachen said, that the measures the Government had taken for defence were not drastic enough. What did they expect to be achieved in three years, particularly as the Government had had to start from scratch? The Government had first secured the best advice as to the particular needs of the country and had :ince achieved excellent results. There was a limit to the amount of money that could be made available for defence purposes, Mr Meachen added, and the Government was concerned that this should be spent in the most necessary directions. The Opposition, however, did not appear to be concerned with New Zealand’s particular requirements, but pinned its faith to the actions of the British Prime Minister. If conscription was necessary in Great Britain then it was necessary in New Zealand appeared to be their line of thought, yet the circumstances were entirely different.

The Opposition speakers would be rendering useful service by helping rather than criticising the Government.