PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1939, Page 5

PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SAVAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 22. The Prime Minister, Mr Savage, announces that arrangements have been completed for the opening of the Pacific Defence Cor-feronce in Wellington on Friday, April 14. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom will be represented by its High Commissioner in New Zealand, Sir Harry Batterbee; the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Harry Luke; Vice-Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, Maj-ar-General F. J. Macksey, and Air fvlarsnal Sir Arthur Longmore. His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia will be represented by Vice-Ad-miral Sir Ragnar Colvin, who will represent Australia as well as the United Kingdom, Colonel V. A. R. Sturdee, and Wing Commander G. Jones. The New Zealand Government will be represented by members of the Council of Defence, in addition, by the Minister and Secretary for Industries and Commerce, the Controller of Civil Aviation, and such other officials as circumstances may require.

AID FOR GOVERNMENT.

NATIONAL PAPITY ATTITUDE.

HASTINGS, March 22.

“Any action that the New Zealand Government takes to support Britain in her attitude to problems of defence has the wholehearted support of every member of the National Party,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, in a statement in Hastings today when he passed through in continuation of his North Island tour. “It is in times such at these that policy must be clearly defined. Our people are united in their determination to support the British' policy in meeting one of the gravest international situations in history. “Preparedness has become essential, and to that preparedness the people must contribute with thought and action, so that the Government may know that it speaks with the supportof all parties when it discusses defence and a programme of complete co-operation with Britain.” “Naturally we all hope that efforts to preserve world peace will be successful, and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the statesmen who are steering British foreign policy today. Never has the unity of the Empire been more necessary.

“Nev; Zealand must be prepared to play its part to the full as she has done in the past. The urgency of the question is by comparison as great in New Zealand as it is in Britain.