MONEY SPENT ON DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 23342, 28 October 1937, Page 6

MONEY SPENT ON DEFENCE

Need For Obtaining Value Emphasized PACIFIST OUTLOOK , CONDEMNED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 27. The necessity for seeing that value was obtained for money expended on defence was emphasized by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) during the second reading of the debate on the Army Board Bill in the House of Representatives tonight. “I am not one of those who can speak as an authority on military matters,” said Mr Hamilton, “although I believe that all of us would have been better off for a little military training in our young days. However, in this Bill we are discussing State services which involve us in an annual expenditure *of £1,500,000. I think the Government will agree that it is only reasonable to examine all the proposals and make sure that this money is being spent to the best advantage. “There have been some complaints during the debate about Jingoism. Well, there are two sorts of Jingoism: the Jingoism of the ultra-patriotic person and the Jingoism of the ultrapacifist. Although we do not want to encourage a militaristic spirit, we certainly do not want to develop a pacifist outlook. One of the main State functions is to maintain law and order in the community, and the defence forces have their part to play in that. The Government is increasing the police force and developing defence forces, and it is good to know that it appreciates its responsibilities in this direction,”