Wairarapa Daily Times (Established Over 60 Years.) WEDNESDAY, 29th SEPT., 1937. BE PREPARED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 September 1937, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times (Established Over 60 Years.) WEDNESDAY, 29th SEPT., 1937. BE PREPARED.

These are testing times for democracy. Almost daily the grim logic of events is warning it that it can maintain its system of government and preserve its material only by unity, energy and sacrifice. In Europe and elsewhere abroad the challenge is loud and imminent. The air is heavy ■with menace, where, indeed, it is not already rent by high explosive. Here, in far-away New Zealand, only vibrations of the European tension, only echoes of the distant strife, come to disturb our preoccupation with domestic affairs. Yet, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear what is going on abroad, we must perceive that our own liberties are inexorably involved in the struggle between rival systems which is now dividing the world. Our rich and lightly-tenanted territories, as well as Abyssinia, as well as China and Spain, may become a prize in the grapple between the “Haves” and the “Have-nots.” That New in such a crisis would ;stand..as a united and self-sacrifice ing nation goes without saying. But it might then be too late. The time for unity and effort is now, when we are free to prepare against threats of aggression. warfare, being a highly technical and specialised business, is fatal to improvisation. Surprise and speed, are the essence of

attack, and scientific training’ of personnel and an abundance of mechanical equipment are essential to defence. Although our isolation lessens the possibility of a surprise attack, it increases the need for self-dependence in defence, based on the development and adaptation of our industrial resources, and reinforced by the intelligent co-operation of the whole community.