DEFENCE PROGRAMME WELCOMED

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

DEFENCE PROGRAMME WELCOMED

ATTITUDE OF NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 19. Gratification at the programme outlined by the Minister for Defence (the, Hon. F. Jones) on the air defence and the land forces was expressed by the New Zealand Defence League in a statement. The league endorsed the policy of obtaining mechanised units and emphasized the need for increased land forces. “We are in serious need of more trained men,” says the statement. “Our young men are not attending territorial camps in sufficient numbers to enable a sufficient proportion of the population to be adequately trained and more trained, man-power is absolutely essential for supporting the other branches of the service. .

“The Minister invites the co-opera-tion of all citizens and the league hopes that all the people of New Zealand will respond to the Minister’s appeal,” says the statement. After drawing attention to its willingness to co-operate with the Government in the provision of adequate defence forces it adds: “The league hopes that other members of the Cabinet will follow the lead of the Minister of Defence and do their utmost to ensure that the New Zealand defence forces will be adequate in the event of any emergency.” “As Dominion president of the Defence League,” said the Hon W. Perry, M.L.C., today, “I would say we welcome the fact that the Minister of Defence has made a comprehensive statement of the defence position as it exists in New Zealand. We have not yet been able to call our national executive together to discuss the statement in detail, and in the meantime I am not prepared to make any comment on it.”