MILITARY FORCES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 8

MILITARY FORCES

Discussing man-power, Mr Coates said that so far the voluntary system had been adequate, but in one way they had been caught napping. Their front line was overseas, but their reserves were in New Zealand, and these reserves should be trained. The Territorials were the overseas troops of the future. In his view the Army should be supreme at this stage. Unless the Army had complete elbow room to train men for home defence more time would be lost. New Zealand must take the responsibility for its own defence, and as the United Kingdom had so many problems we must decide for ourselves. The Prime Minister: I think the House is unanimous that, whatever wo do overseas, we have to do everything here.

URGENCY OF EXPANSION. MR COATES’S OPINION. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, May 31. On two brief occasions Mr Speaker used his new authority to-day to shut off the broadcasting of Parliament when Rt. Hon. J. G. Goates was speaking during the second reading debate on the Emergency Regulations Amendment Bill. It was when he was dealing with the military forces and equipment, Mr Coates suggesting at the time that his remarks might possibly be considered unsuitable to go over the air. In his opening comments, Mr Coates said that the meetings held throughout the country were the outcome of feelings of anxiety that a crisis had been reached calling for the best effort from every man and woman in the Dominion. People were looking for a clear and definite lead which rode above all their little differences. He did not agree with the proposed War Council because it side-stepped the whole situation. How could men give their best unless they had an opportunity ? The Opposition was willing to play its part, whether within or without the Government. All the Opposition had done was to say it believed all the parties should be represented in the Administration during the present critical period. . Surely, said Mr Coates, when men from both sides of the House were fighting side by side on the battlefield it was the duty of the members remaining behind to get together and make a united effort. NEED FOR RESERVES.