MEED FOR DEFENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19128, 24 September 1936, Page 4

MEED FOR DEFENCE

NEW ZEALAND'S DANGER

COMMERCE CHAMBER VIEW

"While other peoples are making sacrifices and denying themselves !to make themselves more efficient we are getting soft," said Mr. W. E. Bate at a meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce in advocating steps to secure adequate defence of the Dominion. The chamber voted its strong support of the efforts being made by the Associated Chambers of Commerce to secure adequate defence. After a copy of the report on this subject prepared by a subcommittee of the Associated Chambers had been under discussion members of the chamber agreed that the efforts being made should continue and that the Hastings chamber should congratulate the Associated Chambers on the report and the resolution which had been drawn up and forwarded to the Government.

"The report is a general recommendation providing adequate defence," said Mr. C. Duff.

"The world position to-day is more serious than in 1914," said Mr. A. C. Hyde. "We in New Zealand are so far away and do not realise our potential danger. We feel safe because of our isolation. To expanding,, virile nations New Zealand presents a fine prize—a beautiful country under-populated and at present under-armed."

"The days of the volunteers are gone,' remarked the president, Mr. W. C. Baird. "We must have universal conscription. Cadet training at school should also be fostered. We should urge that the Associated Chambers should continue to agitate on the lines of their report."