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Chronicle (Levin), 4 July 1949, Page 2

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Press AssociationJ

Mr. Fraser Expects N.Z. To • Do Its Diity

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, July 3. ' 'Let us say with one voice that we intend to preserve our right to freedom. Complete unity. will sound the clarion call that we are awake to the danger and alert. L'et us have a verdict of the people commending and comaiianding the instailution of military traiaing," said tlife Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in a! national hroadcast this evening. "Let one recall the words of St. Paul 'For if the truxnpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle?' Let there he no uncertain sound. "We owe this definite decision to the world of free men. We owe it to ourselves who come from a race that has always been in the forefront of the fight against tyranny and dictatorship. We are a small country hut our exaonple has heen and can he of priceless value to the democracies of the world faciag the desperate danger. I know and feel that I can expect all of you on August 3 to give a strong and ciear answer to this appeal for the defence of our people, our country, our Commonwealth and' world- wide democracy and freedom." Mr. Fraser said the Government and Opposition were united in support of compulsory- military training. He spoke to the people of New Zealand to ask them to give tlie greatest and rnost earnest consideration to the question. When that was done he felt certain that a most overwhelming democratic vote would be cast in the cause uf security and consequently of peace. The issue would be placed before the people on a baliot paper in this form: I vote — FOR — compulsory military training. I vote — AGAINST — co-mpulsory training. ' ' Theref ore, to support the defence of our country and our Commonwealth you will strike out the bottom line on the baliot paper," said Mr. Fraser. "You must strike out the bottom line." The Prime Minister said New Zealand, with the whole of the British Oomonwealth, tvould weleome and support any sincere, fair and practicable proposals for world peace and disarmament but it would uot agree to neglect the defence of New Zealand or of the Commonwealth while hostile nations were fully and pow erfully arnied. The Menace "The menace has come right heve into our own country," said Mr. Rraser. "Who are the people in Kew Zealand who are "most active in trying to keep New Zealand weak and vulnerable? Who today are the most vociferour against the seheme for military training ? Who else but the Communist Party and their tools, witting or unwitting. They are mostly those in tact wlio are always forward in creating disturbanees in our industrial life and thereby injuring and reducing New Zealand 's production of wealth

apon which our higli standard of living and our economic and social security and progress depends. Some of these persons are opposed to any form of defence — voluntary as Avell. They would not lift a iinger to assist voluntary recruitment. For some time past thej' have been working up a campaign against eoqipiilsory military training in New Zealand. The Gommunists are the very heart and core of the antidefence movement in this country. You will no doubt see more of that .propaganda in one guise or another. Watch your letter boxes for their propaganda. See who leads the attaek against military training in New Zealand. It does not need elcquence to persu&de you who are enemies of the defence of New Zealand and the British Comonwealth. A complete and unhesitating affirmative vote from the people of New Zealand is the greatest defeat ,the local Gommunists can suffer." . New Zealand could not stand apart if the British Commonwealth was threatened. New Zealand 's defence problem was theref ore two fold — New Zealand must do all slie could to secure the integrity of New Zealand, including the Paciiic areas, and must also.make the maximum coutribution possible to the defence of the British Commonwealth. The Prime Minister said New Zealand also must be mindful of her obligations under the Charter of United Nations. She could meet these obligations only if sl;e was prepared and only if she trained her young men and made plans for the equipment and movement of the forces. It might be too late if New Zealand waited until an. emergency arose. In the last war they saw the costly consequenees of the unpreparedness of the democratic countries. New Zealand 's interests could be elearly recognised. The integrity of New Zealand, the integrity of the British Commonwealth and unity in the common purpose, with other freedom loving countries, to resist any aggression. f ' This, then, is why I am asking you to vote for a system in which all our

i D" " — ' - - young men will be trained," said the Prime Minister. "It is for our own security in these islands. It is for the maintenance of the freedom we enjoy in common with all our democratic friends. ' ' . Sound training in modern defence tnethods gave protection to the men themselves if they should ever be called upon to take up arms. It was unpreparedness before efiicient aggressors that built up casualty lists. The compulsory system was the only fair way. Experience had sliown #that voluntary methods were not suffieient because of the natural reluctanee for some to take up duties while others avoided them. Defence in democratic countries was essentially for the preservation of the welfare and freedom and progress of the great mass of the people.