The Southland Times THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1939. A True Conception Of Home Defence

Southland Times, Issue 23791, 13 April 1939, Page 4

The Southland Times THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1939. A True Conception Of Home Defence

IN a letter from the president of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute’ printed this morning, reference is made to a fundamental problem in defence. “Public opinion,” writes Mr McDonald, “is now at a stage where it needs to be unified and given direction. If a leader could be found to go from one end of the Dominion to the other making a direct definite appeal, I believe he could gather an army of 30,000 men and an equal number of women in a month.” This is probably true. But there is still a difficulty to be overcome. To be really effective, leadership must come from the Government. Until the Cabinet is willing to announce a stronger defence policy and to give it wholehearted support, or at least part of the attention now given to matters of less importance, there must continue to be a great deal of apathy and hesitancy in the public mind. This does not mean that the public should remain inactive and silent. On the contrary a gesture of the kind made last week by Southland teachers is invaluable as a lead to young men and to other sections of the people. The more often such action is taken the sooner it will become necessary for the Government to understand that its own complacency is not shared throughout the country. “A Job For Everyone'’

The essential need is for wise and vigorous action by the authorities, whose task it is to evolve and administer the machinery for home defence. And this, it should be remembered, means a great deal more than building up a territorial army, although there is still much to be done in that direction. In a message from Wellington, printed this morning, reference to the aims of the Pacific Defence Conference includes a statement of expert opinion on the strategic requirements of Australia and New Zealand. “It is generally conceded that neither country need have any immediate fear of a properly-planned invasion by enemy forces. The main danger lies in sudden coastal raids on the main centres, and this calls for proper local fortifications, a trained land force and properly equipped naval and air arms.” Even if it is admitted that there is no “immediate” fear of invasion (and Australian defence policy is based on the assumption that invasion is a definite possibility) the danger of raids should be a sufficient stimulus for preparedness. Moreover, it is not enough to prepare for such emergencies by an exclusive attention to naval and military organization. In modern warfare it is essential that the civil population be educated until the people know where to go, what to do, and .how to help in an hour of crisis. If nothing is done to organize auxiliary services to be carried out by the people themselves there must always be the danger of blind panic, which would mean extra difficulties for the armed forces and a minimum security for non-combatants. “My conception of home' defence,” writes Mr McDonald, “is that there should be a job for every man and woman.” This is exactly what is needed. In increasing numbers the people are ready to play their part. It remains now for the Government to recognize the tendency of public opinion and to take up its tasks of leadership.