LAND FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 23773, 22 March 1939, Page 9

LAND FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND

Support For Defence League DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL Support for the aims and objects of the New Zealand Defence League was expressed by resolution at the meeting of the Invercargill City Council last night, when a deputation consisting of Dr G. H. Uttley and Mr P. Linton Hodge representing the Southland branch of the league, waited on the council. In a letter to the council the league stated: . . “Our land defence forces are pitifully inadequate to cope with the situation which, as the Prime Minister himself has recently stated, we may have to face in this Dominion any day. The attempt to build up a territorial force by a voluntary system of enlistment has been a failure. Only a compulsory scheme can provide the numbers of trained men necessary for our land forces. Overwhelming evidence of the truth of these two statements was given to those who attended the recent meeting at which addresses were given by the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., President of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and Major General Sir Andrew Russell. It is a significant commentary on the apathy of the general public that 90 per cent, of those who attended this meeting, were returned soldiers, men, be it noted, who have known war and who have themselves seen what invasion means to a country. We ask that you give us your wholehearted support in a Dominion-wide effort to bring about the necessary legislative changes so that what this league advocates will be put into effect with the least possible delay. For indeed the matter is very urgent.” PUBLIC APATHY Dr Uttley said a branch of the New Zealand Defence League had been formed in Invercargill. The league was non-political, and its aim was to rouse the public from the present apathy towards land defence. After outlining the aims of the league, he said that the territorial forces were not supported as well as they should be, and most young men were untrained. He asked for the support of the council by resolution of the aims and objects of the league. Mr P. Linton Hodge said they all knew the position was serious. Everybody should realize that the defence of the country came first. It was estimated that a force of 30,000 men was required to hold this country, and they had equipment for about 9000. Mr Hodge also spoke of the value of the discipline of compulsory training to the young men* of today, some of whom, he thought, were in need of discipline. • Cr L. A. Blackmore said he had been in contact with this movement for the last 12 months, and the apathy he had noticed ranged in young .men from 18 to 25 or 30. A few months ago the transport units came from Christchurch, and on the Friday night there was a parade of territorial strength in the city. As the colours passed there was an outburst of jeering and boos from the young men at the street corner. It showed the spirit of some of the young men of todav towards the colours their brothers fought and died under. He moved:—“That the council heartily support the aims and objects of the New Zealand Defence League, and is of the opinion that the time has arrived when the Prime Minister should publicly state the attitude of his Government on Empire defence, and the defence of New Zealand in particular.” Cr E. J. McLauchlan expressed the view that if there was apathy among the young people it was because they were born after the war. Ninety per cent, of the people of the community wanted something done now, and the powers that be should take immediate action. He seconded Cr Blackmore’s motion. “In view of the position in the world today I think it is deplorable that there are thousands of young men who could not handle a rifle, have never seen a machine-gun,- and could not fire a shot in defence of the country,” said the Mayor (Mr J. R. Hanan) in support of the motion.

The motion was carried unanimously.