DEFENCE LEAGUE

Southland Times, Issue 23816, 13 May 1939, Page 3

DEFENCE LEAGUE

SUB BRANCH FORMED AT BLUFF NEED FOR PREPAREDNESS STRESSED A sub-branch of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Defence League was formed in Bluff at a public meeting held in the Town Hall for that purpose. About 20 men and women were made members, and it was decided to hold a meeting next Thursday night to elect a committee and discuss the future activities of the branch. There was an attendance of about 50.

Mr H. W. Newman was appointed chairman and Mr R. Pearce secretary. The Mayor (Mr John Cameron), who was chairman, explained at the opening of the meeting that the function had been arranged by the Southland branch of the New Zealand Defence League. With the affairs of Europe in such a state, and because of the possible imminence of war, everyone was thinking of defence, he said. New Zealand was as concerned about the European situation as any country, and the people shared a dread of the calamity of war being inflicted on the world. The question had often been asked: What was being done in Bluff to defend the country from a possible attack? It was to discuss the need for defence that the meeting had been called, he said. The Mayor then introduced Mr H. Ritchie, vice-president of the Southland executive, the principal speaker of the evening, Mr W. R. Harris, treasurer of the Southland executive and secretary of the organizing committee, and Mr W. Rea, a member of the executive.

During the past few weeks many strong branches of the league had been formed in Southland, including a big branch in Winton, said Mr Ritchie, in explaining the work of the league. The enthusiasm of the people in Bluff was undoubted and it was only unfortunate

that an outbreak of fire just before the meeting had provided a “counterattraction” and so greatly affected the attendance.

JAPAN POTENTIAL ENEMY “It has often been remarked that, if New Zealand were in danger because of invasion by an enemy nation, England would come to our aid,” said the speaker. “We have been told that we must not depend on assistance from other countries, so we must look to our own defences. Japan is our potential enemy. We can visualize what would happen if a Japanese ship appeared off Bluff and shelled the oil tanks and set fire to the town. It is important that we should be prepared.” The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) had said that the defence viewpoint had been, considered in building roads, said Mr Ritchie. The present Government has done more for defence than any other Government, but it had not done enough. A good deal of material was available but there were not the necessary trained forces. There was no doubt that the people had been lulled into a sense of false security during the past few years, probably because a number of war scares had come to naught. He did not think Germany was greatly opposed to Great Britain, but there was much feeling between France and Germany, and a war with France would inevitably involve Britain. The youth in New Zealand, as in other countries, was apathetic in the matter of defence and it was for the older people to show what was to be I done and provide a lead. LACK OF TRAINED MEN The speaker emphasized the fact that it would be a simple matter for Japan to land several thousands of soldiers in New Zealand. Half a million to a million Japanese could be landed in the country and New Zealand could do very little about it. The people might not capitulate, but they could do very little else but take to the hills, as untrained forces would be practically useless in obstructing a Japanese army. Thus, it was important that the country should be prepared for any emergency. It was not suggested that this contingency would arise, but it had to be, regarded as a possibility. ] “I think we should make some sacri- J fice in the interests of our country in- J stead of dismissing the matter with the * old saying that if war broke out we could depend on Britain,” concluded ] Mr Ritchie. 1

Mr Harris then explained the aims of the league and read a number of its regulations. It was hoped, he said, that Bluff would fall into line with other towns and form a sub-branch of the Southland branch. At the conclusion of the address Captain N. B. W. Haszard proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers and moved that a branch be formed in Bluff. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Calder.

Mr P. McQuarrie moved as an amendment that the speakers be thanked and that satisfaction with the adequacy of the Government’s defence policy be expressed and no branch formed. The amendment was lost on a show of hands and the motion was carried by a fair majority.