WELL-PREPARED EMPIRE

Southland Times, Issue 23774, 23 March 1939, Page 12

WELL-PREPARED EMPIRE

“Best Safeguard For Peace” NATIONAL PARTY AND DEFENCE SUPPORT FOR CO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN (United Press Association) HASTINGS, March 22. “Any action that the New Zealand Government takes in support of Britain in her attitude to the problems of defence will have the whole-hearted support of every member of the National Party,” said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, in a statement at Hastings today when he passed through in continuation of his North Island tour. “It is in times such as these that the policy must be clearly defined. The people are united in their determination to support the British policy in meeting one of the gravest international situations in history. Preparedness has become essential, and to that preparedness the people must contribute with thought and action. So that the Government may know that it speaks with the support of all parties when it discusses defence and a programme of complete cooperation with Britain, I make this statement. “Naturally,” said Mr Hamilton, we all hope that the efforts to preserve world peace will be successful and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the statesmen who are steering British foreign policy today. Never has the unity of the Empire been more necessary. New Zealand must be prepared to play its part to the full, as she has done in the past. The urgency of the question is by comparison as great in New Zealand as it is in Britain. Britain tried disarmament to the point of taking a grave risk, but world support for a great ideal faded and the British policy of rearmament has now held a leading place during the past few years. “It should not be forgotten in New Zealand that, following the lead of Britain at the time, previous governments also pursued a policy of disarmament and as a result reduced our own preparedness to the level of a grave risk. No good will come from shirking our responsibilities now for very rapid action. Without in any way failing to appreciate the efforts that have already been made by the Government, I drink that the people should be aware that agreement of thought is not sufficient today. We must have action—equipment, men, material. As part of the British Empire we must ask ourselves: Are we doing our fair share? I wish to see the people of New Zealand roused to a real practical appreciation of their national responsibilities. The National Party is prepared to stand strongly behind the Government in any frank approach it makes to the position. “National security possibly has a prior claim to social security, and in considering the position from this angle defence would more likely assume its correct place in the public mind. We have to avoid doing anything that will tend to build a soft nation. Those dealing with the administration of the country today would be guilty of culpable negligence if they allowed the country to become ill-equipped for its own defence. Moral fibre and character are just as important among our people as war materials and training. They are never the result of easy living or of concentration on material things. I think we should all realize today that after the bitter experiences of disarmament, a well-prepared, well-defended British Empire is perhaps the best safeguard for world peace that we have.” STEPS REVIEWED BY MR DENHAM GOOD PROGRESS CLAIMED “Because of the appalling neglect of the past government, the task of building up a defence force in New Zealand is a very great one,” said Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., in an address on defence in the North Invercargill Hall last evening. “Our Government would not be doing its duty, neither to the citizens of New Zealand nor to the British Commonwealth, if it did not exert every effort and take its full share of the responsibility of providing adequate defence. We have made good progress in this direction.

“When we took office this country was practically defenceless. With a view to organizing a scheme and to coordinate efficiently, the administration of military and civil aviation, an Air Department was established by legislation last year. Much work has already been done in the providing of flying training schools and in the building of hangars. Rapid progress is being made in the erection of buildings on a big scale for the accommodation of the technical personnel and also for the custody of aircraft and stores. In addition to this, big sums of money are being spent on the development of aerodromes and emergency landing grounds, as well as the provision of aeradio equipment.” Mr Denham said that much money was being spent on making firstclass main highways which were important factors in war-time. Thirty bombers of the latest type had been ordered from Britain and 18 of these would arrive in New Zealand this year, the remainder coming as they were available. The Government was actively strengthening the military forces, new territorial units being established, orders had been placed for modern mechanized vehicles and other military equipment so that the very latest methods of training could be adopted by the forces. The deputation from the Defence League to the City Council last evening claimed that the Government’s voluntary system was a failure, said Mr Denham. “This is far from being a fact. Our territorial force has been greatly strengthened, now numbering 9000. Motorized transport and mechanized artillery equipment have been introduced and instruction is being given by means of screen training films. “Our Navy, which was out of date and positively useless, has been reorganized. Machinery and material is coming to hand giving effect to the Government’s policy of maintaining an efficient naval unit of two cruisers and ancillary services, working in close cooperation with the Royal Navy, as well as the Australian naval units.

“The City Council in its resolution is supporting the Defence League’s advocacy of compulsory military training,” said Mr Denham. “I quite agree with the deputation’s contention that 30,000 men are required to be trained and equipped. What would the cost be to do this?” The following figures would show, he said, what the cost a head of the

population yearly in New Zealand had been for the past eight years:—

“The Defence League and the City Council are urging the Government to spend four times as much money as we are now. I wonder what response the Government would get if it issued a loan for defence purposes with interest at 31 per cent.? I notice in The Southland Times this morning that the only way to get financial interests to part with their precious money is to woo them by offering them higher interest. Assuming that it is necessary to compel the young man to serve, it is reasonable also to apply compulsion to money lenders to provide the necessary money on the Government’s terms. Will the Defence League support compulsory money lending as well as compulsory military training?” concluded Mr Denham.

Year £ s. d. 1930-31 11 2 1931-32 8 3 1932-33 8 9 1933-34 9 11 1934-35 12 11 1935-36 14 3 1936-37 15 1 1937-38 1 0 6