“NOT DOING DUTY"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 67, 21 March 1938, Page 6

“NOT DOING DUTY"

NEW ZEALAND’S DEFENCE POLICY MR. HAMILTON’S VIEWS l F.r Press Assoclatloa. | . TIMARU, March 18. ' Dealing with what he described as an unpopular subject, the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), in a speech at Timaru to-night referred to defence matters. He said that no one liked war or the thought of war, but he believed that one of the State’s duties was to attend to the defences of the country. It was no use setting up high standards within the country unless the country was prepared to defend those standards. The people of New Zealand had been fortunate during their lifetime in that they had never tasted war within their own territory. New Zealand today was a nation on an equal status with Great Britain, and he thought the people might be living under a false sense of security. The present international situation was such that unless New Zealand took notice ef it and put her house in order she would be in trouble.

In the defence of the Empire New Zealand had to be ready. She should set up a standard of defence that would be sufficient to defend the standards which people enjoyed today. "While war clouds are gathering in Europe to-day we are following a policy of eat, drink and be merry," said Mr. Hamilton, who added that the t mere passing of motions was not enough. Italy had taken Abyssinia, Germany had gobbled up Austria, Japan was creeping into China, and Spain was rent by civil war. Could we not see the possibilities? If we did not play our part, we would have to take the consequences. Mr. Hamilton said he believed that New Zealand would have to prepare. The country had three defence arms—land, sea and air—all of which were of value, but air defence would have to be developed most. New Zealand paid 9s a head of population for naval defence, where as in Britain the cost was 45s a head. New Zealand was finding one-fifth of what Britain was finding, and it was out of all proportion. This country was not doing its duty in this respect. She should keep close to Britain and also to Australia in the matter of defence. Although Parliament last year had authorised an amount to be spent, it had expended £90,000 less on defence than had been authorised. "We have to develop and encourage a defence conscience,” said the speaker, “or else we may find ourselves in trouble. We have to encourage a sense of duty to defend our own coun- - try. We have to examine our defence system and see to it that we do our duty,” concluded Mr. Hamilton. The speaker touched on a number of other subjects, but throughout his speech was subjected to continuous interjections and cat-calls. Mr. S. G. Holland, member for I Christchurch North, met a similar | fate, and hod great difficulty in making himself heard, even though he used a loud-speaker. The meeting was one of the rowdiest held in Timaru for many years. , REPLY TO CRITICISM “MISLEADING STATEMENT.” GOVERNMENT BUSY. WELLINGTON, March 19. “Mr. Hamilton is evidently looking for a stick with which to hammer the Government,” said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) to-day, by way of reply to an assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) at Timaru that New Zealand was not doing Its duty in the matter of defence. “Anyone who cares to compare what this Government has - done, and is still doing, in the . ts of defence with what Mr. Hamilton and his Government did when they had the chance, would have no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that Mr. Hamilton has very little to boast about. “Defence matters are still receiving the earnest attention of the Government, and the people who have the best interests of the Dominion ac heart would be wel ladvised to do some serious thinking before making wild and misleading statements for political purposes.”