UNITY OF THOUGHT AND ACTION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 152, 23 March 1939, Page 10

UNITY OF THOUGHT AND ACTION

National Party Will Aid Government

SUPPORT OF BRITISH DEFENCE POLICY

Mr. Hamilton’s Assurance Of Co-operation Dominion Special Service. HASTINGS, March 22. “Any action that the New Zealand Government takes to support Britain in her attitude to problems of defence has the wholehearted support of every member of the National Party,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, in a statement in Hastings today when he passed through in continuation of his North Island tour. “It is in times such as these that policy must be clearly defined. Our people are united in their determination to support the British policy in meeting one of the gravest international situations in history.

“Preparedness has become essential, and to that preparedness the people must contribute with thought ami action. so that the Government may know that it speaks with the support of all parties when it discusses defence ami a programme of complete co-operation with Britain.”

“Naturally we all hope that efforts to preserve world peace will be successful, and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the statesmen who are steering British foreign policy today. Never has the unity of the Empire been more necessary.

“New Zealand must be prepared to play its part to the full as she has done in the past. The urgency of the question is by comparison as great in New Zealand as it is in Britain. Effects of Disarmament.

“Make no mistake: Britain tried disarmament to tile point of taking a grave risk, but world support for the great ideal faded and the British policy Of rearmament has now held a leading place during the past few years. It should not be forgotten in New Zealand that, following the lead of Britain at the time, previous Governments also pursued a policy of disarmament, and as a result reduced our own preparedness to the level of grave risk. “No good will come from shirking our responsibilities now for very rapid action. Without in any way failing to appreciate the efforts that have already been made by the Government, I think that people should be aware that agreement of thought is not sufficient today. We must have action—equipment, men and material. As part of the British Empire we must ask ourselves: ‘Are we doing our fair share?’ I wish to see the people of New Zealand roused to a real practical appreciation of their national responsibilities. The' National Party is prepared to stand strongly behind the Government in any frank approach it makes to the position. National or Social Security.

"National security possibly has a prior claim to social security, and in considering tlie position from this angle defence would more likely assume its correct place in the public mind. We have to avoid doing any-' thing that will tend to build a soft, nation.. Tlio.se dealing with tlie administration of the country today would be guilty of culpable negligence if they allowed the country to become ill-equipped for its own defence, and moral fibre and character are just as important among our people as war materials and training. In the process of that equipping the two first-mentioned qualities are never tlie result of easy living or of concentration on material things. "I think we should all realize today that after Hie bitter experiences of disarmament a well-prepared, well-de-fended British Empire is perhaps the best safeguard for world peace that we have."