PEACE OR WAR?

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1928, Page 3

PEACE OR WAR?

.NECESSITY FOR STRONG NAVY

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 7

Speaking at the Navy League function yesterday the president (Mr J. J. Dougall), in welcoming Mr Percy Hutchison, said that it muis infrequent to meet a man nowadays mTio considered that the Navy League deserved support.

“The British people,” Mr Dougall continued, “are a curious quantity. With their back up against it there is nothing on earth better; but unless they are up against the wall they are the most apathetic people alive. People say that there is no necessity for .i strong navy. The No More War people had the audacity to ask the Navy League to join up! (Laughter). I don’t M'ish to say a single word to upset the equanimity of the members of that movement, but u-e have to face the facts. If there is one fact more certain than another it is that the human race u'ill never lie douni in peace and quietness. The nation that wants peace prepares for war. War is the most hideous tiling on earth, and is becoming more hideous. There is hope for the abolition of u'ar From the fact that the next Mar mTII mean a nnihilation.

“As members of the Navy League M-e Mailt to imbue other people with the idea of the inaccuracy of the belief that there Mill (be no more uar. As Lord Jellicoe says, the nation that believes that there u’ill be no more Muir is in danger of being uiped out. Furthermore, the surface ship, and not aeroplanes M’ill be the ship of the future.”

Mr Hutchison, in arknouledgimr the M'elcomo, said he took particular interest in addressing schools and colleges throughout the country, for ho sum- there the grounds for preparing the future generation for the possibilities of war; it muis always necessary to keep before the pMblie mind the danger of ivar if Britain muis not prepared for it M'itli a strong and mighty navy.