IN DANGER ZONE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 283, Issue 283, 14 March 1941, Page 5

IN DANGER ZONE

| NEW ZEALAND TODAY A warning that the horrors of war might yts be experienced in New Zealand was issued bj T the Minister of National Service (Mr Semple), speaking at the opening of an exhibition of A.R.P. and E.P.S. equipment in Wellington. | "The scene is changing, not week|ly but hourly," said Mr Semple, j "and we who are at the head of af- ; fairs here know many things that the average man and woman do not know. We know that the danger is not imaginary, so far as we are concerned. It is real." May be Challenged "The world to-day is a smaller place than it was twenty-five years ago," said Mr Semple. "New methods of transport and communication have reduced distance, and we, though we are far from the nerve centres of the world, and though we are just a little island in the Pacific, are not outside the danger •zone. We may be challenged any time, and it ?s just as well that our people should realise that." One of his great difficulties, in his reeent efforts to encourage enlistment in the Home Guard and; E.P.S. had been the indifferent attitude of a number of people, said Mr Semple, but it was easy to understand why people Avere so indifferent. For the last 100 years the people of New Zealand had liver in an atmosphere of peace. Some people felt that that state of affairs, still existed, but it was not for them to say that it would continue to exist. It was the other fellow, the enemy. "The enemy might deem it necessary at any time to cause trouble in New Zealand," said the Minister. "With that possibility in view, it is necessary to organise our production and mobilise our and woman power so that we wilUg. be ready for any emergency that. may come."