The Southland Times FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1938. Defence Problems In New Zealand

Southland Times, Issue 23513, 20 May 1938, Page 4

The Southland Times FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1938. Defence Problems In New Zealand

The statement made at Dargaville by the Minister of Defence has been followed by a manifesto from four senior members of the New Zealand Territorial Force which claims that the Government’s measures are inadequate. In support of this contention the officers responsible for the statement mentioned several points which should be given the widest publicity. It is common knowledge, of course, that the territorial force is below the modest numerical strength which is the Government’s present objective, that there is a lack of proper equipment, and that the Minister of Defence is handicapped by the apathy of the Cabinet towards military training. Perhaps it is not so well known that “the standard of physique and training of the serving volunteers in some cases is such as to render them unsuited for the purposes of expansion of the present organization in time of need”, or that “the morale of the existing volunteers is being sapped by successive reductions in strength and lack of public support.” Two important considerations emerge from an examination of the main points outlined in the statement published yesterday. One is the continued delay in providing the technical cadres of a citizen army; the other is the continued apathy of the people. It is only fair to admit that the responsibility rests with the general public as well as with the Government. If it were made unmistakably clear that the people of New Zealand are aware of , their defenceless position in a world openly preparing for war no Government could do other than respond to an increasing pressure of public opinion. Defence is an unpopular subject in a prosperous country; but New Zealand, in spite of its remoteness from those places where armies are already on the march, cannot expect to escape the waves of violence which threaten to break across Europe. If war comes it will sweep the world. We believe that this truth is generally recognized throughout the Dominion. Yet the same remoteness which allows New Zealanders to gain an objective view of international events also encourages them to rely on the safety of distance. It is fatally easy to hope for the best and to believe that if there must be fighting it will have to be done by somebody else. The point which should be made perfectly clear is that although New Zealand has no need to prepare for a participation in European quarrels, it is merely a matter of self-preserva-tion to see that'our shores have some protection against possible invaders. We have most to fear from raiders; but it must not be forgotten that raiders who find little or no opposition usually come again, and in increasing numbers. It is necessary, therefore, to build up an air force and a naval division that could meet attacks from the sea, and at the same time to train and equip a territorial army equal to the task of repelling invaders that might break through the first lines of defence. As far as the air force is concerned, the Government has shown itself active in ordering machines of suitable types; but its approach to ground organization has been lamentably slow. Only two operational stations have been plarmed. One is now being prepared, but no site has yet been found for the other. In this defence arm, however, there is no lack of recruits; and if serious attention is given to an auxiliary naval service there should be an equally good response from the right type of young men. Mr Jones stated that among various questions now “under review” was “the provision of suitable craft for local defence in times of emergency.” A great deal could be done, at a comparatively low cost, to provide motor torpedo boats which would be specially suitable for New Zealand waters. These vessels might be useless under normal conditions of naval warfare; but under cover of night or in misty weather they could do a lot of damage to raiders. Linked to our small naval force they could be of real value in war time, and in the meantime would provide an admirable training for recruits who are not attracted by the conditions of service in the territorial army. According to Mr Jones the Royal Volunteer Naval Reserve has a personnel of about 600 men, which is not nearly enough. In Britain the Admiralty is making use of yachtsmen, whose skill and natural aptitude for work in coastal waters is of great potential value; and there is no reason why the attempt should not be made to interest the young men who sail their craft in the harbours of New Zealand. We believe that the response would be satisfactory if the Government entered on an enlistment campaign with some show of energy. The greatest need, of course, is for recruits for the land forces; but even here the difficulty should not be insuperable. Now that the territorial army is to be largely mechanized it should be possible to engage

the interest of young men with a flair for machinery. This can be done only by giving the situation a wide publicity, by appealing to employers to allow members of their staffs the requisite leave for training periods, and by an improvement in the conditions under which the New Zealand Permanent Staff has been forced to work. But the fundamental need is still for leadership, and until this has been provided by the Government no efforts to build up an adequate defence system can be altogether successful.