Defence Of New Zealand

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 149, 20 March 1939, Page 11

Defence Of New Zealand

Sir, —Events in Czechoslovakia have gone as was to have been expected. This further acquisition by Germany calls for a much more determined effort by the British Empire. We in New Zealand are merely playing with defence. The Government is still content to muddle along. The gravest aspect of the position is the neglect of the navy. Earl Beatty had the courage to sound repeated warnings to our people as to the inadequacy of the naval forces in these waters.

The New Zealand Government should have seen to it that at least one firstclass fighting ship should have been on the water in commission, fully equipped! and manned, built at our expense. This is the very least that should have been done. One or more fighting ships in commission would have 'been an excellent capital investment, and would have added materially to our national security, which is not very secure at all. Our first line of defence is on the sea. Insecure there we are insecure everywhere; the Government should now be negotiating with Great Britain for the building of ships of war. However, the Government has both eyes shut to the real position. The trouble is that the Government knows little or nothing about defence. By the time it does learn something, it may be too late.—l am, etc., D. SUTHERLAND. Wanganui, March 17. Sir, —In your subleader, "Man-power and Equipment,” in your issue of Friday, there appeared the following statement: "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 number.”

It is known that recently an automatic rifle has been perfected in Anterica and. issued to the United States army, and it is understood the rifle is no heavier than the .303, and costs about the same, but its fire power makes every soldier a machine-gun unit. It is so simply constructed, that any man can service it with an ordinary screwdriver. Our worthy Minister of Defence should investigate the possibilities of that rifle and devote some of the moneys we are spending on highpriced American ears to its purchase. While -we are on the subject, why not utilize men going to military camps with the help of Mr. Semple’s organization to construct concrete pillboxes in all the vulnerable points along our coasts, and make ample provisions for putting up barbed-wire defences in those parts. Make preparations to have our electric power used to electrify such wire defences. Then, Sir, let them come; —I am, etc., CITIZEN. Wanganui, March 17.