“PUBLIC WORKS MEN READY”

Southland Times, Issue 23782, 1 April 1939, Page 8

“PUBLIC WORKS MEN READY”

Strong Defence Unit For Emergency

EQUIPMENT USEFUL

FOR WAR RAPID TRANSPORTATION AND ROADING (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 31. “I have all the faith in the world that the 24,000 men engaged on public works in the Dominion will respond to the call to arms in the event of the British nation being in conflict with a foreign Power, without the Government resorting to coercion or conscription.” This statement was made by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) this morning on arrival from Wellington.

He was reviewing the work of his department in relation to modern road making and other equipment and said he had every confidence that the New Zealander, if occasion arose and he had the equipment, would fight with ability equal to any soldier in the world.

“He will be fighting for something worth-while—his own country, New Zealand,” added Mr Semple. The Minister said there was something more in modern defence methods than dressing a man in khaki and making him form fours. The army had become largely mechanized the world over and New Zealand in its public works equipment had machines to rapidly build roads, to transport men from place to place, to build trenches and forts overnight and to carry out many other necessary works m the event of war.

“The 24,000 men employed by the Public Works Department, who are trained in the use of modem equipment, would make one of the most effective units for the internal defence system of the country,” said the Minister. “There is no doubt that they would be used for that purpose if occasion arose" and they could be mobilized at the shortest possible notice. The men on the jobs have been talked to on this question and all are willing and ready to do their part at a moment’s notice.” Mr Semple said the Government was building military aerodromes as fast or faster than any country in the world as it was recognized that the Air Force was New Zealand’s first line of defence.