NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 22444, 15 September 1936, Page 7

NATIONAL DEFENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There is evidently a concerted attempt being made to whip up the patriotic citizens of this country in favour of stronger defensive measures. Each paper we read contains various urgings to secure “ adequate ” defence equipment in case of attack. It is difficult to imagine a mind so warped by misplaced patriotism that it cannot even visualise the stupidity of any defence measures we in New Zealand can afford, either in money or in manpower. If every able-bodied man in New Zealand was equipped with, and expertly trained in the use of a ma-chine-gun, it would avail us not at all. Reasoning people clearly see that the enemy who might attack us would nob need to land a man on our shores until they had battered us into_ submission with long-range guns. Is it quite impossible for our military-minded fanatics to see that no defence we can contrive would avail us when the feared enemy arrived? The position is so plain and our puny efforts so futile that one is forced to believe that a good deal of the inspired exhortation to arm and train is dictated by desires of some to parade in military glory and to draw fat salaries from the armament preparations they have scared the country into. In a former letter to you, 1 'suggested that what money it is found we should spend on defence should be presented to the British Government for use an the Singapore base. I notice that no one has attempted to show that this way of defending ourselves is not the very best we could adopt. Instead, wo have a steady campaign in favour of insane home defence which would be quite inadequate whatever we could do with our monetary resources and population. The aforesaid campaign will probably be successful because of the ignorance and indifference of the people. It is the militarist who is organised and vocal. The people are too busy crowding to see football matches, wrestling bouts, and all manner of amusements. When the slaughter of the innocents starts as a result of the militarists’ plans of “ adequate ” home defence, it will be these pleasure-loving people and their sons who will be mown down. Our onlv hope is in Singapore, and every penny we are compelled' to spend on defence should be spent there. Our own defencelessness will save us from the penalties which futile resistance would bring upon us, as well as saving life and property. With Singapore adequately equipped, no enemy could come near our shores. New Zealand’s defence is not to be done in this country, for obvious reasons, and we must regard the naval base at Singapore as the safest, sanest, and only real protection we can help with.— I am, etc.. Advance. September 14.