DIRECTION TO BE SOUGHT

Southland Times, Issue 23826, 25 May 1939, Page 6

DIRECTION TO BE SOUGHT

Defence League’s Position

EFFECT OF SPEECH BY MR SAVAGE

DR UTTLEY TO TELEPHONE DOMINION PRESIDENT

Today the president of the Invercargill branch of the Defence League (Dr G. H. Uttley) will telephone the Dominion president of the league in Wellington (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.) asking him for a direction as to the future activities of the league in view of the recent statement by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) on the Government’s defence policy. This decision was reached at a meeting of the executive of the league last night, when a discussion followed a suggestion by Mr H. Ritchie that they should change their meetings into recruiting ones. “We would be working more in with the Government if we did that,’ he said. “There is a feeling among some people that we will be overlapping now if we still insist on conscription.” “I think it is a matter in which -We should get advice from headquarters,” said Dr Uttley. “We really are duplicating,” said Mr J. Haworth, “because people are going to the Post Office now and enrolling.” Mr Ritchie said that if the Government did not get the required number of volunteers it might take the view that it was the wish of the people that there should be compulsory military training, and introduce it. The object of the league, Dr Uttley said, was to raise interest in the defence of the country. It considered that the .volunteer system had failed and that compulsory training should therefore be introduced, and that the number of trainees should be 30,000. Mr Savage’s aim was 16,000. He thought they should await some direction from headquarters so that there should be no clash. Mr J. F. Gilkison said there still remained an urgent need to make people “defence minded.” The chairman: What is the procedure regarding the organization of branches? Are we to go on as before? We consider the number should be 30,000. Are we going on the same lines as we have been doing? ■ “I don’t see how we can, said Mr Gilkison. Dr Uttley said they were in favour of voluntary service if they could get the men. “We say we can’t get them,” he added. “The need is urgent, and therefore it must be compulsory. It remains to be seen what the, Results of Mr Savage’s efforts will be.” “If we can get the required number voluntary we should be satisfied,” said Mr Ritchie. He moved: “That the Government be congratulated on the progress made towards the defence of New Zealand, and that this branch do all in its power to encourage enlistment under the voluntary service. It is of opinion, however, that if the required number does not enlist under the voluntary system the Government be urged to introduce compulsory training.” Mr B. W. Hewat said he was not satisfied that they should express an opinion of that sort at the present moment. “Our aims and objects show what we are after,” he said. “As an organization we must appreciate what Mr Savage has done but I feel that a communication should come from headquarters. Other members expressed similar views and the motion was dropped. It was then decided that Dr Uttley should telephone the Dominion president today and ask him for a direction.

BRANCH OF LEAGUE AT QUEENSTOWN DEFENCE PREPARATIONS A public meeting to hear addresses by Mr S. D. Blomfield and Mr E. T. Eastwood, organizers of the Eastern Southland branch of the New Zealand Defence League, was held in Queenstown. The Mayor (Dr W. A. Anderson) was chairman. The Mayor emphasized the necessity of making preparations for a national emergency. It was, he said, much better to be prepared by making plans. The Mayor said that this was why the Defence League had been formed. He was afraid that not much could be done in this outpost of the Empire, but they should be in line with other districts in case any such emergency should arise. The Defence League could give a lead to the Government as to what could be done. Committees had been formed to see to such matters as food supplies, transport and health matters. There was a first-class aerodrome in the district, but it might prove a menace if hostile aircraft invaded the country. There was also a hospital and a number of persons trained in first aid and he in his professional capacity was prepared to train others. The mayor stated that the Borough Council would take authority to deal as best it could with any emergency that might arise, with the backing of every member of the community. Recruiting should also be encouraged in the district.

Mr Blomfield said that it was hoped that the last war would end war, but unfortunately in the last few years the various pacts and treaties of nonintervention which had been entered into had all been broken and the League of Nations had failed in its attempts to avert war.

Mr Blomfield went on to say that the time had come when New Zealand must overhaul her defence programme. The Ministers of the Crown were now considering the matter and it was pleasing to know that the Air Force was being put on a sound footing. The New Zealand Defence League was desirous of building up an organization to assist the Government to bring its defence provisions up to a safe standard. If they had 30,000 adequately trained men in New Zealand they would be able to ward off an attack, but they would need 100,000 men to consolidate their position. Mr Blomfield then described the various aims and objects of the league, which embraced compulsory recruit training, and the continuity of such training, the restoration of territorial units, the principle of equality, the establishment of a national register of both sexes who might be able to assist in any way and the approval of legislation to improve physical welfare. Mr Eastwood also spoke, describing what was done with the subscriptions.

A motion that a branch of the league be formed in Queenstown was carried unanimously and the following committee was formed: Chairman, the Mayor; committee, Mr and Mrs F. Rankin, Messrs C. M. Inglis, W. Mc-

Innes, S. S. Abum, F. Bailey, T. Davidson, H. Sew Hoy, W. D. Warren, R. Lloyd and D. Cosgrove; secretary, Captain G. A. Herbert. Messrs Eastwood and Blomfield were accorded a vote of thanks.