The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1939. Making The People ‘Defence-Minded”

Southland Times, Issue 23827, 26 May 1939, Page 6

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1939. Making The People ‘Defence-Minded”

Although it is much too soon to decide whether the Prime Minister’s appeal for volunteers is to succeed or fail there is no doubt, as a speaker at a meeting of the Invercargill branch of the Defence League pointed out on Wednesday night, that there remains “an urgent need to make the people defence-minded.” So far the response has not been noticeably enthusiastic. It seems certain that if the Government is to gain quick and satisfactory results for a system of voluntary service it will have to follow up the Prime Minister’s radio address with a publicity campaigndesigned to remove the last I apathy from the public mind. On Monday night Mr Savage did not hesitate to describe the realities of the present situation in world affairs. “Let no one imagine,” he said, “that if Great Britain were involved in a general war this country would or could stand aloof, enjoying undisturbed neutrality. Any attempt on our part to pursue such a policy would bring us not greater safety but greater danger.” This' is a truth which should no longer require any strong emphasis. It will be surprising, therefore, if the people continue to show a reluctance to accept the position and all that it implies in the way of defence preparation. Unfortunately they have been assured many times in the past that the Government was doing everything necessary and that there was no need to take notice of “scare-mongers.” Perhaps it is too much to expect the apathy and complacency of i months and years to vanish with I the echoes of a single speech, even when it indicates a notable change of front in official circles. Now that the Government has made its tardy recognition of danger it should lose no time in overcoming the handicaps raised by its own initial delays. Delay Is Dangerous

There is still no unmistakable proof that the national military reserve is to be organized with a maximum speed and efficiency, i As expressed by Mr Savage, the intention is sound: “We must prepare ourselves one and all to be able at a moment’s notice to concentrate our energies on the business of national defence. . But this kind of preparedness can be attained only through the most careful organization, a willing cooperation between the people and the authorities, and above all a thorough training in the use of modern weapons and equipment. Such training cannot be carried out in a few hours. In asking for volunteers the Prime Minister was careful to minimize the demands that are likely to be made on the time and service of those who join the national reserve. “Arrangements will be made,” he said, “to see that young men are not deprived of their Saturday sporting activities.” Nobody will want to see any curtailment of athletic games which do a great deal to promote physical fitness and the qualities of nerve and mind that are invaluable in an emergency. But it must be pointed out that a similar considerateness in relation to Saturday sports would not be shown by invading troops. The truth cannot be disguised when the times are urgent. The Government will be making a fatal mistake if it encourages the people to regard their responsibilities lightly. National service cannot be separated from some kind of sacrifice, and it will be strange and ominous if New Zealanders are unwilling to give up something of their time and comfort in order to safeguard their country’s security. Unless the Government bases its appeal on realities and refrains from sugaring the pill of national effort it will be condemning the voluntary system to failure and precipitating the issue of conscription. Equality of Sacrifice?

Even at this stage the question is looming against the near future. Apart from the inequality of service implicit in the volunteer principle it may become necessary to recognize the need for swifter action. Valuable time is passing while the country rouses itself from lethargy and slowly makes up its mind about enrolment. Moreover, if large numbers of men remain' outside the system they might become an extra responsibility and a threat to smooth organization in an hour of national danger. Every man should have his allotted place in a crisis. Sooner or later these facts will have to be given careful consideration. The disturbing truth is that while the Government advances at a slow pace in an experimental approach to the problems of defence the days are passing and the chances of a really efficient organization are being sacrificed to a principle that is no longer valid in a world arming for a totalitarian warfare. Freedom of choice for the individual is hard to defend when it becomes a threat to the security of the nation.