NEED IN WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20036, 7 September 1939, Page 9

NEED IN WAR

DOMINION STEPS CABINET COUNCIL LONG PREPARATORY WORK BOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS COURSE FOR SERVICES MANNING OF D.EFENCES (Pii rl ia 111i!ii t iiry Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. New Zealand was fully prepared when the call to arms came on Sunday. Complete organisation for the national security was put into operation without flurry and with smooth efficiency within a few hours of the formal declaration of hostilities. The coastal defences were manned within six hours and the navy and air forces were at action stations. Every step had been taken to conserve the’national resources. These measures had to be enforced with the authority of over 30 regulations which had been prepared beforehand and became operative at once. The machinery which enabled this 'huge achievement to be accomplished was, figuratively speaking, put into action by the pressing of a button. This was the culmination of many months of intensive preparation and planning. Its completeness and eflcctiveness demonstrated the value of the organisation for national security which had been working steadily in times of peace preparing for the eventuality of war. Not only was New Zealand ready to go to war, but was in a position to defend herself at that moment. It is now possible to tell the public of New Zealand the exclusive inside story of the method by which this efficient security organisation was set in motion. The proclamation ol a state of emergency on the Friday preceding the outbreak of war had given the “right ol the road to all the preparations that had been made Historic Meeting The- culmination was an historic meeting of flic Cabinet, commencing at 1) o'clock on Sunday night anc prolonged until the early hours o Monday morning. This meeting was called jvith the realisation that wai could not be avoided. Therefore, the heads of the fighting services were called to Parliament buildings, together with all the heads of departments responsible for carrying out the organisation of national security. The necessary regulations and authorities were ready for signature. They had been prepared during the preceding months and reviewed carefully by the Ministers responsible for the departments specifically concerned and also overhauled by the AttorneyGeneral. This, however, was not the final process. The Cabinet had to satisfy itself as to how they would operate. Therefore, each departmental head concerned with the particular set of

regulations under review was called into the Cabinet-room and the Ministers made searching inquiry into the reasons for every action proposed and the method which would be followed in putting it into operation. Regulations Approved In this way 30 regulations were approved and two sets held up for further examination. The “war telegram” from the British Government did not arrive until 11.45 pan. on Sunday, although the whole country had been apprised by radio broadcast of Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s dramatic announcement from Downing Street two hours earlier. Because of the delay in the receipt of the telegram owing to the congestion on the cables, the official hand of the New Zealand Government had to be stayed until nearly midnight. although action was not postponed. The Governor-General. Viscount Galway, was at that time waiting in his office in Government Buildings. Soon after midnight, the Cabinet adjourned and there was a meeting of the Executive Council, over which the Governor-General presided. At this meeting all the necessary Orders-in-Council were passed and then signed, by ITis Excellency. A momentous moment in New Zealand’s history had been reached At 1.55 a.m. on Monday, Lord Galway, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, dispatched a telegram to .he British Government announcing New Zealand's decision to participate in the conflict. The organisation for national security which was now operating became vigorous in 1937 and was galvanised into intense activity by the Munich crisis in September of 1938. At 'that time the potentialities of the scheme as a vital factor in national preparation were fully realised. Driving Force Centering on the Prime Minister’s Department, the organisation derived its driving force from the Rc. Hon. M. J. Savage. To the permanent head of the Prime Minister’s department, Mr. C. A. Berendsen, was given the responsibility of developing the plan and to his aid was brought Lieuten-ant-Colonel W. G. Stevens, who was seconded from tire New Zealand Staff Corps for this duty. Gradually the organisation was expanded to cover not only the activities of the fighting forces, but the whole of the civil administration. Over .40 departments became conerned. There were 50 separate comnittees which' have, to date, held Dver 400 meetings. The activity was intensified towards the end of April when the Prime Minister issued an urgent instruction that, /all preparations for •i state of war must be completed by July 31. When that date was reached lie’ New Zealand Government war book, a red-covered volume 3in. thick ,vas in existence. 'This book .summarised all the measures involved n passing from the state of peace to a state of war. In addition to this, all the Government departments had Ihcii own detailed instructions as to the part hey were to be obliged to play dining any crisis. The war book co-oidm-ates the activities of all these departments. Every page was operative when New Zealand went to war against Germany on Scptcmbci 3. Ten Chapters Containing 10 chapters, this book •<ets out the steps, to be taken lrom the approach to war, known as the “precautionary stage,” to the actua

declaration and carrying on of the nation's activities during war. New Zealand’s security organisation was brought to the alert on August 24 when all the heads of services and departments were instructed to “stand by” in accordance with the provisions pf the war book. At 2.20 a.m. on Saturday a fateful telegram, arrived from London, staling that precautionary measures were being taken against Germany and 40 minutes taler the Cabinet was sitting in consultation with the chiefs of the three services and the officers of the organisation of national security Preliminary measures were then approved, a number of men being called out for coastal defence and to guard vital points. The ship-exam-ination service was also commenced at this stage. Long Cabinet Sitting All Sunday, with the country under severe strain in the expectation of war, the Cabinet sat almost continuously. It had fallen to the lot of the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, to carry om the .plans inaugurated by his chief, Mr. Savage. The acting Prime Minister, with a capable lieutenant in the Minister of Deience, the Hon. F. Jones, showed tnuse cool and tireless qualities that combine to make a national leader. There was no hesitancy in any decisions that had to be made and the whole organisation which had been so well planned was in operation in full force without the slightest delay. Tt was a graphic demonstration of the efficiency of the defence machine that the manning of the coastal defences was accomplished in six hours when an undertaking had been previously given by the Chief of the General Staff that this could be done in 12 hours. Actually his own part of the plan worked so effectively that it was done in half that time. , Tlie navy and the air force carried Out their plans with equal expedition. When the Council of Defence met on Monday the chiefs of the services were able to report that everything to meet the emergney had been done, file enemy did not catch New Zealand napping on September 3, 1939.