DEFENCE QUESTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 18842, 7 June 1920, Page 4

DEFENCE QUESTIONS

General Birdwood is doing this country a service in directing its attention to the question of defence, although he is hardly fair to the League of Nations. That body has not yet commenced to function, and it is difficult to judge of its powers until it has an opportunity to exercise them. At the same time New Zealand should not give hostages to fortune by neglecting its defences. General Birdwood looks at the matter with the eye of a soldier, it is true, but it is to our soldiers that we should look for advice in these matters, and there can be no doubt of the soundness of his suggestion that, whatever we do in the provision of defence we should keep in close touch with Australia. In the Commonwealth General Birdwood" strongly advocated close co-operation with India, and apparently his idea is that the dominions, while retaining an independent control of their defence systems should make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the doings of other units of the Empire and create, as far as possible, a great Imperial system. So far we have had no indication from the Government of its ideas on the subject of defence, and probably we will hear little of a defirute nature until the House meets. It is desirable that the question should be approached earnestly. We have to consider our position in the light of Pacific problems of the future and in the light of Imperial defensive measures. The Pacific interests us vitally and we cannot ignore the fact that we share with Australia grave responsibilities in that sphere of activity. It is possible for us to see ahead

the prospect of peace for a year or so, but after that no sane man will care to prophesy and we must remember that if the Pacific ever hears the din of war, this country, with Australia, .pray be called upon to take the first shock. We will not have time to develop and train a force as we had in the Great War, and our defensive system must be devised to meet such a state of things. Until we know the Government’s mind on the question it is idle discussing details, but if we are wise we will decide at the earliest possible moment the question of an effective system of defence, once calculated to meet our needs fully, or nothing. A system that is ineffective is absolute waste —and worse, it gives us a false sense of security, that error wo must avoid.