DEFENCE SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 8

DEFENCE SYSTEM

TIME OF EMERGENCY MOBILISATION OF ALL RESOURCES DECLARATION BY MINISTER CRITIC AROUSES PROTEST (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. "It must be apparent to everybody that if this country is threatened, not only every human life but every penny and every ounce of .property becomes part of the de- ' fences of the country," said the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives tonight. Mr Fraser made this statement during a stormy passage that followed a speech on the Estimates by Mr J. Hargest (Opposition, Awarua). A storm of protest from the Government benches greeted a suggestion by Mr Hargest that some of the money set aside for public works and social services should be diverted to defence. Mr Hargest began by congratulating the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) on the increased expenditure planned for defence. No one, he said, would detract from the .importance of social security or public works, but national security was of greater moment.

Mr Jones: We are spending £5,500,000. Mr Hargest: That would have been a tremendous sum a few years ago. but now it is not too much. Mr Hargest said he believed that it was necessary that a force of 16,000 men should be trained and augmented, and that if there were 30,000 men it would not be extravagant. Works and Social Services "Some of the ,money for public works and social services should be diverted to defence," he said. Government members: Oh! Mr Hargest: I know that social security is an excellent thing, but it is not as important as national security. Mr Hargest said that if anything happened to the rest of the Empire there would be almost a certainty of New Zealand being invaded and for our present forces, small and comparatively untrained, the task of resisting would be extremely difficult. "He has run true to form," said Mr J. O'Brien (Govt., Westland) after cries of " You would rob the orphans and widows" had died down. "I would like to tell him," Mr O'Brien said, "that this country is worth "defending and that we are going to defend it, but not by robbing the widow or the orphan. " It makes my blood boil to hear the honourable gentleman suggesting the cutting down of social services," Mr O'Brien added. He said that those who had money would not be allowed to make a heap of profits as they had done before. Mr J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara): I did not make any profits. Mr O'Brien: Your friends did. If men in this country are going to be conscripted, the wealth will be.too. Mr Coates: Why not? Finance for Defence

Mr Fraser: There is no difficulty about finance for defence. There is £5,400,000 this year, and, if that is not sufficient, it is unthinkable that the question of finance should stand in the way if this country is called upon." Mr Fraser repeated his assertion that if the country were threatened every life and all money and property would become part of the defence system. DEFENCE SERVICES SHIELD AGAINST INVASION MINISTER'S CONFIDENT TONE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The adverse effect on recruiting of derogatory references to the territorial force, whether in Parliament or outside it, was mentioned by the Minister.of Defence (Mr F. Jones) during consideration of the Estimates in the House of Representatives tonight. The Minister said he was satisfied that the various services could make a decent showing for the defence of New Zealand. The territorials were receiving to-day a better training than in the past. Mr Jones said the standard of recruits was excellent, as a fine type of young man was coming forward. Defence expenditure had been doubled this year, but he could not say if the full amount would come to charge. Large orders had been placed overseas lor equipment and ammunition.

The position to-day was very different from that in 1911 to 1914, the Minister said. In those days the authorities were endeavouring to build up a force for overseas, but to-day it was not known whether it would be possible to send a force overseas. He wanted to see the young men who joined the territorials completing their contracts and serving for three years. Speaking before the Minister, Mr J. A. Lee (Govt., Grey Lynn) said that the fear of invasion was not justified. He was satisfied that if the country were confronted with an enemy there was enough intelligence and resourcefulness in the country to do the job. Mr H. G. Dickie (Opposition, Patea) said the defence measures were not adequate. In 1911 when the country had a population of 1,000,000 there were 28,871 recruits. "I do not suggest that New Zealand is going to be invaded," Mr Dickie said, r, but I do suggest that if war breaks out we do not know where our frontiers will be."