GENERAL’S VISIT TO OPOTIKI

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 177, 3 May 1939, Page 2

GENERAL’S VISIT TO OPOTIKI

DEFENCE LEAGUE CAMPAIGN SIR ANDREW RUSSELL’S VIEW A visit to Opotiki will be made on Friday, by Alajor-General Sir Andrew Russell, .patron of tlie New Zealand Defence League, and Sir Andrew will deliver an address that night in the Parish Hall. .(Encouraging results have been achieved by Sir Andrew in the*'course of a lecture tour now in progress with a view to interesting the youth of the province in defence problems. In an interview in Auckland tlie general stated that tlie response generally had been good. “This tour is mainly an educational one,” Sir Andrew .stated. “We are trying to clear up the situation in the minds of country folk, who have not perhaps the same chances of i ol-io-wing international affairs. We are not actively recruiting on this tour.” The league Tielcl that it was the duty of every man and woman to prepare himself or herself by training for the job lie or she would be called upon to do in time of war, Sir Andrew continued. The league was, not, however, advocating conscription. “When you conscript manhood you must conscript a country’s resources as well,” he continued. “Air. Savage said he would conscript wealth first, but- that is putting the cart before the horse. If war breaks, out you want soldiers, not recruits, and if conscription comes about you want the trained man in one hand and the money in the other.

“With reference to the progress of recruiting., not having been associated with the territorial forces for many years I cannot speak from personal experience. From what I have heard from officers now serving, and to whose opinions I attach greatweight, it would appear that there are at- least two. factors.,.of importance acting,! as deterrents. “One i.s ‘ that- a* young fellow naturally asks himself how others of his. age, possibly more fortunately placed, refuse toi discharge these obligations but expect him to do so,” Sir Andrew continued, “The second is that owing to the reduced strength of units, and the- constant flow in and out of the ranks, it appears to have been found difficult to maintain a progressive system of tactical training, with the consequence that- training is largely confined to the drudgery of the early stages, important though they are, and the men therefore miss the higher tactical training which is .the most interesting. They (consequently feel that they are not- getting anywhere and that it is not worth while.”