NATIONAL DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26719, 13 March 1948, Page 8

NATIONAL DEFENCE

MATTER OF URGENCY MINISTERIAL ASSURANCE REQUESTED

p.A. WANGANUI, Mar. 12. “It is disappointing that on such a grave question as national defence Mr Leckie should have expressed his personal opinion as president of the Invercargill R.S.A. without consulting his executive,” said Mr C. N. Armstrong, who moved a resolution dealing with defence at the quarterly meeting of the Wanganui R.S.A. on Wednesday night, when comments on that resolution and the attitude of the Wanganui R.S.A. on defence in general made by Mr D. F. Leckie were referred to him. “There is no doubt that returned men from the Second World War would again answer the call m a national crisis, but it is appalling to think that the men who have borne the burden of six years of war should be the first to be called upon ’ Mr Armstrong said. “ The plea of the Wanganui R.S.A. is not a novel one. It has been the policy of the R.S.A. for the past two years. All that is being asked is that the matter be treated as urgent. “If war comes, we must be ready, not in a month, but immediately, for in modern times nations will not give any notice of thejr intentions, said Mr Armstrong. “ Even if we have sufficiently trained men, have we the necessary equipment? Is the country satisfied we have sufficient aeroplanes, naval craft, tanks, weapons and ammunition? We have not had any Ministerial announcement to that effect” . Mr Armstrong said he could quite understand the Government not wishing for security reasons to discuss defence matters in public, but if! an assurance could be given to the New Zealand R.S.A., that would be desirable. , , ~ . “We are entitled to demand that urgent consideration be given to the question,” said Mr Armstrong. If it is the Government’s intention to use men from the Second World War as the country’s first line of defence, the returned servicemen are entitled to know if they are to be provided with adequate weapons, ammunition and equipment."