NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1920, Page 4

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

POLICY STATED BY GENERAL RUSSELL.

WELLINGTON, April 10

In a policy statement, Major-General Sir A. H. Russell, president of the recently formed National Defence League, says be desires to emphasise several important factors for the consideration of the people of this country. The fact of the matter is that the world to-day is tired of war and its abominations, and not unnaturally a feeling of lassitude has crept over people, and made them inclined to put tho whole subject out of their minds, and relax into an attitude, not exactly of indifference, hut of dislike for the whole thing. People, in consequence, have been asking whether there is any need again to take up national defence. Plenty of people, have been taking as a motto tho dictum of the President of United States, that the late war was a war to end war. There can be no question of a war to end war. The abolition of war demands the removal of causes which lie deeply embedded in human nature. When the individual and the nation have been educated to a full realisation of their duties and responsibilities, there will be no need for police,, or defence leagues, or compulsory military service; but that day is not yet. There is, therefore, need for a league of this kind to wake people up to the importance of being prepared to defend their ideals and their property, as well as to he able to’ do their duty, not only to this country, but to the Empire, and to the race to which we belong.

The League has nothing to do with party politics. Its mission is to educate the electorate on the need for an efficient defence, force, and when it has don that, the Government will do its duty. Ail efficient defence force cannot he expected under tho voluntary system, as Under it tiiose in charge cannot know what they have got. The responsibility for whatever system of defence we possess rests with the electors; it rests with everyone, and what the league, proposes to do is to educate the country by means of propaganda—t-o stir up its friends and to convert its opponents. After dealing with the question of inefficiency, which, in war means unnecessary loss of life, General Russell defines the aims and objects of tho League as follows: To maintain a White New Zealand : to secure the immunity of the country from invasion ; upon such measures of defence as may he considered necessary. In the attainment of these objects the League specifically lays it down as its policy that it is not desired to convert the manhood of this country into soldiers, but purely to ensure that every man who is capable of bearing arms is given sufficient military training to enable him to obey the highest duty of citizenship by being able adequately to assist to protect his country should the occasion arise. In other words the platform of the League sets forth that the New Zealander is a citizen, and only becomes a soldier when he is required for the defence of his country.

In regard to a white New Zealand, General Bussell points out that the storm centre of the world is moving eastward, and we are at the point where East meets West, both of them to educate the people of the country probably in their highest state of development. Though there is a certain fusion elsewhere, there can be none here, and in the clash of ideals ours may go under unless we can keep our shores inviolate. The League advocates the maintenance of a universal training system, not only ror reasons of defence but for other reasons, and the provision of sufficient guns, rifles, and equipment for the fitting-out of a citizen army. He denies that any attempt is being made to introduce militarism, which, the members of the League loathe and despise, and says anything but a. democratic defence force is unthinkable.

Other proposals of the League are:— The devotion of special attention to the moral training of the youth of this country, and their education in the ideals of good citizenship. The strict suppression of all bad language in camps, making its use punishable as is civilian life. The League insists that this evil must be put down with a strong hand, and demands that the Defence Department shall take practical steps to secure its eradication. The taking of every possible precaution to preserve the health of boys while undergoing training in camp or elsewhere, with endeavours to improve the same under proper medical supervision ; also, educating trainees upon the observance of health principles during both civilian and military life. Tho employment of selected women to assist in cooking, ambulance work, and in all the institutes in camp where they can be profitoblv and suitably employed.