PREPARING TO DEFEND N.Z.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 April 1939, Page 5

PREPARING TO DEFEND N.Z.

TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION

BRANCH FORMED IN

WHAKATANE

YOUNG MEN JOIN FORCES

There was an overflow meeting al the County Chambers, Whakatane, on Thursday evening when an, ail. dress was delivered by Captain H. -J. Gillmore, general secretary of the New Zealand Territorial Association, on the aims and objects of the association and of the necessity for defence. His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, was in the chair and he was supported by Mr A. G.. Hultquist M.P. The meeting entliustically decided to form a branch of the association in Whakatane and to assist in recruiting. After the meeting young men were invited to join the territorials and as a result about 25 filled in, the form of application* All realised the need for defence said Mr Barry,. The next war would be much nearer home and we would !>e called on to defend the country. The movement deserved all support 3s many young men knew nothing • about military matters, and anything that would help them was of great value. Captain Gillmore sakl he hoped to establish the 16th branch of the association in the Northern Military District at Whakatane. The association came into being at the conclusion of military service. It was then established in the main centres and the objective now was to scatter the work in all centres. All efforts for peace seemed to have failed he-said. We as a country were now standing on thin ice. ASSOCIATION'S OBJECTS. The objective of the association was to raise funds for the necessary work among territorials. The Govern, ment was sympathetic, but the Government could not give the Association more than a nominal grant. The branches were self-supporting. In every town he said he had to become a "scrounger" and look for subs. Ths people of Whakatane were very good, but many hod made promises of a contribut on if and wlhm, a branch was raised. Each effort made in a town was for the benetit of the troops in that town. It was the individual's duty to stand up for what was nearest and dearest to him he said. It was for them and them alone to establish and maintain an efficient defence force. It was a responsibility on the women to see that their men folk were efficiently trained. Australia he said had led in notable manner. The defence vote had increased and the militia had been built up. Whether Australia was more aware of the danger than New Zealand he didn'l know, but he thought they were more defence minded. DANGER VERY REAL. The danger was very real (Captain Gillmore said). Germany had 100 divisions and could increase her force to 300 divisions. She had 4l!00 tanks and 10,000 planes with four pTjots to each plane. Behind her were Italy and Japan. The French were crated to the but their effo t must be confined to her own borders. Russia had 10,000 tanks and 10000 planes. Her army was perhaps the most efficient in the but what could Russia do for Nav Zea. land? It was common knowledge what Germany was doing. Italy on her way to Abyssinia gave the British navy 24 hours to get out of the Medi terranean and Britain had to do it. Britain was very weak then. We must be strong to be defended, and to be defended we must be trained Captain Gillmore added. In Auckland there were facilities for entertainment of the troops. These were very much appreciated. They offered social amenit'es and Jcept soldiers from being the object o' 1 ulterior motives which were familiar to men in uniform. The association provided suppers lectures, concerts and dances. It was "orrect to say thnt there V was nothing equal to military train irn* to develop both brain and body was obvio'is if nnt'-ai-ed and trained men were contrasted. NON-POLITICAL. *'We may not all support the Goveminent in office, but we all support Mr Savatfeips the head of the eou" trv, ,r safid. "This a ssociation na ■ m *->o' r wli~t ver an Ii T i lii il in i' 'I''

APPEAL TO PEOPLE

in contrast to our forefathers. They came out here and with, their blood they bought this land, and we had to face the charge of not caring very much. Among the Japanese »vho were virtually our enemies the lives of soldier and saiilor were devoted to the emperor. He quoted figures to show that England was aware of the necessity for defence. In N.Z. of a quota of 8000 there were 76#1 on register, and he believed a medical examina. tion would show that half were unfit for active service. Who was responsible? His hearers were. Their responsibility was to see the young man trained to defence. One must either prepare the young men for defence, or offer them to slaughter. JAPANESE THREATS He was informed that there were three Japanese battleships and three* German battleships north of New Guinea during the September crisis This story was denied at the time but he hatl been informed by an authority that it was correct. He had read a translation from a Japanese newspaper of an article which advocated that when the Pacific j countries were conquered the men should be exterminated and the women used to found a virile race of Japanese subjects and Captain Gillmore said it, was a ghastly threat. As far as the association was concerned its aim was to aid and assist in recruiting. To do that it had to get funds the administration of which were left in the han'rfs of the mayor and citizens on the committee. Captain Gillmore answered several questions after his address. The gist of one question was wlie» ther he really wanted them to believe that New Zealand was in danger of invasion from Japan. Ca >- tain Gillmore sa'd that he simply gave facts from which anyone cou'd draw conclusions. Japan seemed tn have her hands full at the moment, .but he would point out that in th" present struggle in China Japan had not used the bulk of her forces. SERVICE OVERSEAS. A questioner asked whether the Territorials would be used for home, defence or overseas service.. Captain Gillmore replied that the oath they took was for service in New Zealand. If it was desired to send them o/ev. seas a new form of attestation, would be needed. Mr Hultqu'st confirmed this. H was impossible to send men over, seas under the present oath. Another speaker thought the naval forces at Singapore would be sufficient to prevent any attack on New Zealand. Mr J. G. Cliff McCulloeh said the questions asked showed that appreciation, of the need for defence was not as deep-seated as he would like. The New Zealanders weren't going to shelter under the Old Conn, trv all the time. If war came the Diggers woidd help the country and the young men would do the same. Jaoan or any other country knew what defence we had now. If thev knew that a real defence was there they would not come near Thev knew that New Zealand had onU' 3000 or 4000 men and thev could come to-morrow if they wi lied. "GOD HELP NEW ZEALAND"' "I get very hot under the collar when I talk on th's subject" said Mr McCulloch. "I hate to think that New Zealand will not respond. Ofti eers Ike Captain Gillmore do not eome here and say what thev do with the mere object of creating a bit of a stir.. Tt is true that every. bodj' talks about the situation in Europe to-day and not about sport. People realise how grave a. situation hasa risen. It is up to the ladies and the older men to sav to the •■■n'vffer men 'Join up be trained _ be prepared, then there "MM be no war. Tf we are not p v cpa v ed then we have •'ot to take the conseauences, and help New Zealand." ''In the event of a sudden emer. gency such as a strike or a riot will the territorial forces be used as trikebrcakei's as in the past? ' ask"d a persistent questioner. "We are entirely in the hands o ; tile Prime Minister, Mr Savage, ■aid Captain Giil nore. Mr Hultquist said that he had leard that in the event of war tin Singapore base was too strong foi !he Japanese forces to get past it. That information came from Singai>ore. Tn fairness to the Government i ho;ild be remembered that it inher ted no guns- or ammunition wort' lltmrf aid ft was torda

than the last Government. The public should have responded much more than they had, and to that ex. tent they were to be blamed. IMPORTANCE OF TERRITORIALS The Prime Minister had reiterated his appeal for men to join the arnlts. Everybody should answer the call and if war came he believed that every man and woman would have a job. On the extent to w;hich we had trained men would depend the efficiency of the forces. The present number of trainees was barely sufficient to officer and train the men who would be needed if war came. It was hard to prophesy the form war would take. In the event of war he believed Japan would look to New Zealand last, but there was not onlv Japan but also Italy and Germany. Great efforts were now being made to obtain a Pacific* pact and a conference was sitting in WellingtonBig steps were being taken to de„ fend the country. The Territorial Association was apart from anything the Government provided. It was in the nature of a, Territorial club. Whakatane, he said, was a hard place in which to raise funds, especially for dental clinics and ambulance funds. Pos. sibly some day someone would get up and lecture Whakatane on that subject. Mr Hultquist commerded the association to the audience. BRANCH FORMED. Mr Barrv asked for a motion that a branch of the association be formed in Whakatane., This was put for. ward by Mr L. Newman and seconded by Mr S. Brown and carried. The election of officer s resulted: Patron, Mr A. G. Hultquist M.P.: nresident, Mr B. S, Barry > Mayor of Whakatane; chairman, Mr J.. G. Cliff McCulloch; deputy chairman, Major C. F. Thomas: secretary and treasurer, Mr IT. Brabant; committee. Mr L. Newman,, Major C .A. Le Lievre, Mr Tlaines. H. -N. Mac Don« aid, Mr Gooda'l, Mr F. W. Iv. Ray. mond H. Haeusler; lariv repro sent.ative, Mrs E. T. Dawson. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair and the singing of the National Anthem.