THE NAVY AND DISARMAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19667, 8 December 1933, Page 11

THE NAVY AND DISARMAMENT.

To the Editor ol ' The Tirnaru Herald ' Sir,—At a Timaru picture house the other night, before the main picture was screened, a picture of the doings of the British Navy was shown. It began with a reference to the fine heritage of the British Navy, mentioning Nelson in particular. There followed a fairly comprehensive sketch of fleet manoeuvres and of activities on the ships. Now, since the Disarmament Conference met first, there have been several outbursts by naval men ( who deplored the weakness of the British Navy. That scaremongering has been nefarious enough, but harm has been done in a more subtle way by such films as this one I have mentioned. The forces of destruction have been erected as idols. For, accompanying these naval pictures, there was a Voice. And the Voice appealed to that which was lowest in the characters of the audience. The Voice said proudly that H.M.S. Nelson cost £7,000,000, and took 3* years to build (forgetting to mention that it could be destroyed in one hour); that 140 Oerman submarines were sunk in the Great War by the British, and that the sight of the Home Fleet at anchor would make any Briton glow and tingle with pride. For several minutes, 16-inch guns were firing, and they would have been very boring, but for the big noise. And the depth charges made big splashes. A picture of over 5000 ft., containing no story, is not produced to be shown to several hundred thousand people just because the producers have not sufficient imagination to film an interesting story.

And now and again, during the picture. the stirring tune “Rule Britannia” was heard. “Britons Never, Never, Never. Shall Be Slaves!" Surely it is auto-suggestion! For it is obvious that there are few patriots who are not slaves to fear and pride. British people would fight to keep their freedom, but if they think that this is the only means in a crisis, they are slaves to that idea also. But only those who believe that the good of the whole world comes first, and are slaves to that Idea, are completely free. But, of course, our Navy is for defence. We dare not trust the others and they dare not trust us—so armaments remain, and blaring patriotism, and ill-feeling, and war. Until some nation shakes off its fear, destroys its means of defence, Sacrificing itself if necessary to show the world that it refuses to settle any disputes by going to war, suspicion shall lead to war. And until Timaruvlans wake up to this fact and refuse to be thrilled by the sight of a Grey Hound, they are actively helping to bring about another war.—l am, etc..

A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD. Timaru, December 7.