NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 202, 27 August 1936, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE

NEED FOR PREPARATION SOUTH AFRICAN VETERAN'S VIEWS (Per Press Association! WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. Although hitherto an advocate of the volunteer military system in NewZealand, Mr. Goldsmith, president of the South African War Veterans’ Association, addressing (he annual conference to-day, took a different view. He revie.ved at considerable length the present world situation, and said: "At past conferences I have urged members to advocate the promotion of the volunteer spirit, but. viewing with great alarm the nervousness of the nations, and having considered the gravity of our isolated position, and recognising our state of unreadiness, I believe the time has come and is urgent for th? Government to set about, without further undue delay, setting our house in order. The reintroduct.ion of the compulsory clause of the .Military Service Act should be the first step. Military experts should be instructed to prepare a plan in accordance with our national requirements. The youth of the country should be taught that, their highest duty is to fit themselves for military service, and we should present to the world a picture of a small nation fully cognisant of its responsibilities both Io itself and Io those to whom it looks for assistance, and with whom it would bp fully prepared to co-operate to the fullest possible extent, should the need arise. I trust that before this conference rises a resolution will be passed expressing the sentiments of the South African veterans along the lines I have sketched."