MAN-POWER AND EQUIPMENT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 147, 17 March 1939, Page 8

MAN-POWER AND EQUIPMENT

It is evidence of the general anxiety felt in the United Kingdom concerning the defences of the country that Labour members are among those most active in the. House of Commons in questioning whether the Government is doing enough. During the debate on the Army Estimates, reported yesterday, Mr. Churchill congratulated the Secretary of State for War on the decision to provide 19 divisions for service overseas, but Mr. Bellenger, from the Labour benches, declared that it would be necessary to prepare the nation for an even greater effort. The whole tenor of the debate, in fact, revealed a striking alignment of all parties on the importance of adequate preparation, not only imthe recruitment of man-power, but in the provision of the most modern and efficient equipment. Indeed, it is becoming generally recognized that superiority of mechanical equipment might well have a more decisive influence in modern campaigning than sheer weight of numbers. The latest development in Czechoslovakia must be taken as a warning that there can be no relaxing of vigilance; that, m fact, efforts to strengthen the defences of the Commonwealth in every possible way must be intensified. Australia has taken her position very seriously, but even in that Dominion there is a feeling that tiie Government is not doing enough. Only a few days ago we had the Labour Premier of Tasmania, Mr. A. G. Ogilvie, publicly stating his belief in the need for compulsory national service. Australia, he declared in a broadcast address, was living in a fool’s paradise, inadequately prepared for a sudden war emergency. . . These remarks apply with even greater force in this Dominion. It is time that the New Zealand people realized the full implications of what is now taking place in Europe. It should be clearly understood that these events are part of a development the objective of which extends beyond the frontiers of Europe; that no reliance whatever is to be placed on assurances given by the leaders of the totalitarian States concerning their future intentions. Furthermore, the significant fact that the Western Powers have been unable to pievent these things from happening in Europe should quicken the consciousness of our defenceless position in the Pacific. Mr. Chamberlain himself has stated in one of his speeches in the House of Commons that in the event of another major conflict, Britain might have to envisage the possibility of the “temporary loss” of overseas territory. It is against just such a possibility that Australia and New Zealand should be prepared, and it is of the first importance that we should take stock of our man-power and equipment. . . ' In the light of the increasing danger of the situation, what we have in sight under our present system is obviously inadequate, lheie are signs, however, that the public is becoming uneasy. There was. for example, the report from Auckland yesterday conveying a plea by the provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union for the reintroduction of compulsory military training. The Government no doubt may be disinclined to admit that its present plans are inadequate. It need not, however, be afraid to take its cue from the speeches of Labour members in the House of Commons or the plea of the Labour Premier of I'asmania, for we feel sure that the majoiity of the New Zealand people will be prepared to endorse more positive action.