NEW ZEALAND AND WAR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22517, 27 September 1938, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND AND WAR

VIEW OF MINISTER FOR MINESNECESSITY FOR PRESERVING DEMOCRACY [From Our Own Reporter.] KAIKOURA, September 26. "Probably a .way to peace will be found out of our present trouble; but if more notice had been taken of Ramsay Mac Donald and Lloyd George it would have been a more 1 pleasant world to have been living in now," said the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister . for Mines, in commenting on the international situation and its effect in New Zealand. "You can't suppress . nations; and keep them down," the Minister said. He, at the, time of the last war, "did time" as a protest against the secret diplomacies in Europe, and against the method in which men here were conscripted, he said. Zealand were faced With war, the conscription 6f ecoripmic forces would probably, be an early consideration, the Minister said. ■" -■ ■ ' ~. '..J''" '.■ "Whilst I am impressed with the seriousness of international conditions, and while everything else in my nature rebels against war, believing it to be anti-Christian, anti-social, -anti-moral, anti-human, and anti-commonsense, I have to realise that we are faced with a desperate state of affairs prevailing in Europe, where the cherished Jiopes of the dreamers have been shattered, where the rights of the people are ignored, where jealousy and hateare taking the place of brotherly affec°Tam least consoled with the thought that the heart of the people is good and sound, and if given the opportunitv would relegate wars into oblivion. BritisE Commonwealth of Nations, along with America, » the bulwark of democracy, and this democracy, that means so much to liberty, freedom, and humanity, is.in danger from those forms of dictatorship that have usurped the people s rights in-other lands. The motto of the iron rod of dictators has no place where the will of the, people alone must triumph, and the New Zealand Government will be 100 per cent, be(hind the League of Nations in.ani endeavour to settle international differences by mutual goodwill andarbitration. For instance, the Hon. W. Nash, Minister for Finance, opened the way with a trade agreement. Defence Forces "The question of defence •is not a party question, and the people can rest assured that the Government x left no stone unturned to bring New Zealand defences to the highest point of efficiency, and should the British Commonwealth be involved in a struggle to uphold the true rights of democracy, the New Zealand Government will adhere to the principles the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) put forward at Geneva when he electrified the great assembly with an inspiring speech on behalf of peace. As Mr Jordan pointed out, if war should find Britain involved, every part of the Empire would be 100 per cent, behind her. , A J "Much-as I loathe and detest war, believing it is the outcome of an economic world planless, and based on materialism and violating all that is beautiful and sacred in life, and expressing the worst features of barbarism, I would not hesitate one second in giving my life to uphold the treasured principles of democracy against the ruthless method of all forms of dictatorship. "To me, the redeeming feature of the present situation is to be found in the open discussions taking place, and the world-wide publicity it has been given." The Minister said the Government had, with the assistance and best advice possible, brought New Zealand's defences up-to-date. Perhaps in the years to come, with well equipped forces, New Zealand's isolation would be its greatest protection, and perhaps the Dominion would then be in a position to snap her fingers at the world, dictators or not.