A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3987, 12 August 1930, Page 7

A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

NEW ZEALAND’S ASSISTANCE.

QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. WELLINGTON, August 7. Information whether New Zealand was committed to provide an expeditionarv force of 80,000 men in the event of *a national emergency was sought by Mr W. E. Barnard (Labour member for Napier) during the Financial debate in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr Barnard referred to a statement made at the Navy League conference at Dunedin last week by Lieutenant-com-mander Connors, who had said an officer of high military rank had told him that New Zealand was definitely bound to supply such a force should it be needed. Mr Barnard said that the Minister of Defence (Mr J. G. Cobbe), in reply to a direct question whether any such agreement existed, had replied that there might be an understanding. “ Surely if there is an understanding or an agreement or commitment,” said Mr Barnard, “the Minister ought to know all about it. We can only assume that he does know all about it. Parliament should be told all about this understanding. Lieutenant - commander Connors appears to know what our coiiimitment is, and I presume that General Young (G.0.C., New Zealand Military Forces) knows all about it, but the people and Parliament are kept in the dark. I submit that Parliament is entitled to know what agreement there is. “ The rank and file,” Mr Barnard continued, “ are the ones who suffer in war. They suffer in wealth and blood, and surely we, as their representatives, are entitled to this information. I want to record my protest against the attitude so far adopted by the Minister in this matter. He will see the necessity of the House and the country knowing of its .commitments in war. I see -no reason why we should not have the information, and everv reason why we should have it.”