WELCOME GIVEN TO STATEMENT

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

WELCOME GIVEN TO STATEMENT

MR DOWNIE STEWART’S

APPROVAL '

RIGHT OF- CRITICISM OF DETAILS (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 23. “As the Territorial Association’s main object is to encourage recruiting, members will welcome the Prime Minister’s appeal,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, president of the Otago branch. The branch also highly approved of the declaration that defence should be free from party politics and. he hoped that some of the Prime Minister’s colleagues would take note. At the same time, this did not mean that anyone should be denounced as unpatriotic who criticized details. If that were so trade unionists in England would lose the right to criticize Britain’s conscription policy. In New Zealand, while the Territorial Association would endeavour to make a success of any scheme the Government adopted this would not deprive members from advocating compulsory service if they thought it the fairest democratic system.

Mr Stewart added that Mr Savage held that if the internal living standards of all countries rose the main cause of war would disappear. Mr Stewart reversed the statement, holding that only when international peace was obtained was each country free to develop its internal economy standards.