SHOWN REALISTIC VIEW

Chronicle (Levin), 5 August 1949, Page 5

SHOWN REALISTIC VIEW

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Australian Comment On Vote In Referendum

, Copyright)

Received Friday, 10.45 a.m. SYDNEY, August 5. "New Zealand's arnied forces will .not be powerful judged by world standards, but New Zealanders have shown that they take a realistic view of the problems of Pacific defence," says the Sydney Telegraph in a leader today. "If the friendly nations of the Pacific zone get around to forming a Pacific defence pact, New Zealand will be prepared to play her part. Can Australia say the same? We have justifiably and frequently asserted our claims to nationhood. "Our representatives at the United Nations Council havethumped the table on. occasions when taking a stand not always in line with that of the United States —our bulwark if trouble came again to the Pacific. But what force would we have to back up our arguments if ever the time came to back them up? "Before the striki threw many young men out of work, the Government's call for voluntary enlist- [ ments in o'ur armed forces met with a feeble response. We can exp'ect that enlistments will fall away again when the strike ends. If we, too, take a realistic view of our defence responsibilities, we should face the fact that our voluntary system is on trial. If it fails we may have to coiisider following New Zealand's lead. (Further comment on the result of the referendum appears on page 6.)