The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1938. A Wider Basis For Defence

Southland Times, Issue 23681, 2 December 1938, Page 6

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1938. A Wider Basis For Defence

The most sensible statement on defence yet made by a member of the Government has come from the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who addressed a meeting in Napier on Tuesday. He explained that political events in other parts of the world have made it necessary to accept a changed view of military and naval requirements in New Zealand. If war came to Britain and the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis was still in existence, he said, the Dominion might be left to fend for itself, perhaps in circumstances very different from any that have had to be faced hitherto, “for Japan had a knack of not letting any suitable opportunity slip.” He believed, moreover, that no matter how anxious Britain might be to send effective aid her naval and air forces might be required at full strength nearer Home. There would still be a possibility that the United States would intervene in a struggle that threatened the balance of power in the Pacific; but anyone who has watched the trend of world politics must know that aid from an outside Power, especially where no treaty obligations exist, is by no means a probability. In any case, if the United States Government decided that Japanese aggression in the Pacific was a direct threat to its own security and that it would be wiser to settle the issue at once rather than wait for a later contest, effective help could not be provided quickly enough to save this country from destructive raids, and possibly invasion. The position, then, is that New Zealand would almost certainly have to look to her own defence. According to the Minister of Defence the present land forces are “adequate.” But Mr Barnard does not share this opinion. “It is stated that a force of 8000 trained men could be expanded in an emergency,” he said, “but the trouble is that we have not got 8000 men. We are 1000 short of the 8000 minimum required.” The position is admittedly better in relation to the air force, although many people would feel more secure if it were not necessary to wait so long before even the first deliveries of modern fighting planes and bombers can be made in New Zealand. But the air force alone cannot be expected to cope with an emergency which might take a shape totally different from what is now predicted by the optimists at Wellington. “I wish to point out,” said Mr Barnard, . that although the air force is a tremendous power, we cannot get away from the fact that the last resort is with the man on the ground—the much despised infantryman.” He did not hesitate to suggest that the future policy of the Government would depend a great deal on New Zealand’s response to the call for volunteers. “If sufficient men volunteered that would be good. If not, the Government would have to look into the matter, and compulsion might be forced upon the Dominion by the sheer necessities of the situation.” The important fact, of course, is that the problem cannot be left to solve itself in an • unhurried future. Large-scale organization requires time, and events overseas, although now mgving slowly in a period of comparative quiet, provide ample proof that delays are dangerous. It seems hard to believe that the young men of New Zealand remained unresponsive to the threat that darkened all the horizons a few months ago. Yet it is plain that volunteers are not coming forward in sufficient numbers.

As Mr Barnard pointed out, the territorials are wanted for home defence only. “What is required is a trained force to defend these shores, and not to send to the four corners of the earth.” But the time is coming when New Zealanders will have to ask themselves if they can afford to insist on what amounts to an isolationist policy in defence. Without the British Fleet and British prestige in world affairs our tenure in these islands would be frail indeed. The British Empire remains a single unit in times of emergency, and if there are strategic points—Singapore is one —that could be strengthened by expeditionary forces from the Dominions it would be merely a matter of self-preservation to share the larger tasks of Empire defence. Once the necessity for preparation has been admitted it is merely foolish to confine it to a narrow and selfish conception. Britain has shown that she is unwilling to fight. But if the need is forced upon her it should be understood clearly that in aiding Britain where help is most welcome New Zealanders would be defending their own vital interests and their own soiL