DEFENCE MEASURES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20853, 11 July 1939, Page 8

DEFENCE MEASURES

TENDENCY TO CRITICISE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ PART (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Tuesday “I regret that we meet under the shadow of an international situation, which is tense and menacing,” said Mr Mulholland in his opening address at the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union this afternoon. "We find that our defence preparations, particularly so l'ar as the training of men is concerned, are in anything but a satisfactory position. We are glad that the Government has taken this position seriously to heart, and is now energetically attempting to remedy the matter. “There has been in some quarters a tendency to criticise the Government for the unsatisfactory state of affairs that lias existed. This is unfair to the Government, the truth being that until now the people have been entirely unheedluP of the position; in fact, it would not be too much to say that a majority of our people only recently were actively opposed to military preparation. Reason for Unpopularity “No small part of the reason for the unpopularity of military training which has existed among young men is the fact that those who undertook it were frequently treated as though they were doing something dishonourable. This was not the fault of the Government, but oh' the people. “1 think we are now all awake to the fact that these young men who (give of their time and their energy to prepare themselves for possible eventualities are to be honoured and upheld in every way that lies in our power. While we may think that the Government could do better by adopting other methods, that must on no account hinder us from doing our utmost to make the best possible use of the system of training and military preparation which the Government lias put in hand. Particularly as farmers, should we do everything possible to assist and encourage file efficient working of the preparations for defence.”