STRENGTH OF N.Z. FORCES

Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 6

STRENGTH OF N.Z. FORCES

COMPARISON WITH 40 YEARS AGO

“BETTER TO FIGHT ON ALIEN GROUND”

The strength of the military forces of New Zealand and the present international situation were referred to by speakers at the annual reunion of the Invercargill South African War Veterans’ Association on Saturday evening. Mr J. Hargest, M.P., speaking of the possibility of a major conflict, said that it would be better that New Zealanders serve overseas and fight on alien ground than fight an invader on their own soil. “Since the crisis in September there has been a feeling of alarm in New Zealand about the state of our defences,” said Mr Hargest. “Unless we are prepared to defend ourselves and our country New Zealand may become the prize of a victor in another war. Those of us who have been engaged overseas know what an invasion means and we should tell our boys that it is better to fight a battle, on alien ground than on our own soil.” To the veterans he would say that no advice could come from better lips than theirs in helping the youth of the country to realize its responsibility at the present time. It might be a great sacrifice to ask the young men of the country to go overseas to fight or to help the Motherland in her fight for liberty, but it would be better to do that in the defence of the country than to fight on home soil. “It is far better to meet the enemy on his own ground, he added.

Mr Ben Ellis, the Dominion president of the South African War Veterans’ Association, discussed the state of New Zealand’s military forces at the present time. He regarded as unfair what New Zealand was spending on her defence forces compared with what Britain was spending. In South Africa 40 years ago the colonial soldier felt a feeling of security when he realized that the British soldier was fighting alongside him, he said. Without the British Army to look to, New Zealand would be unsafe to live in. But what was New Zealand doing to help the country which gave it protection and security, he asked. “Weve got a tinpot army that is not as strong as the volunteers of 40 years ago,” he said. “We have got good soldiers in New Zealand and we should use them.”