AN URGENT CALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1939, Page 5

AN URGENT CALL

DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND Prime Minister Appeals for Volunteers INCREASE IN TERRITORIAL FORCE ALL ABLE-BODIED MEN ASKED TO JOIN RESERVE ('Ey -Telegraph.--Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An appeal for volunteers for military units and for other able-bodied men to join a national military reserve for the defence of New Zealand was made by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in a broadcast address last night. He asked for men for the regular forces and for the territorial army, the peace establishment of. which is to be increased from 9500 to 16,000. He also appealed for 250 men for service in a special reserve for coast defence work, and to every able-bodied man from 20 to 55 years of age to register in the national military reserve. From those offering their services in this reserve, 5000 with previous military experience are to be selected as a reserve to territorial units. In a national emergency they -would be called up in order to bring the territorial peace establishment up to war strength. Reference was also made by Mr Savage to the international situation, and what had already been done to strengthen the New Zealand defence organisation. He said that strength and vigilance were the condition of survival. Apart from the defence of its own shores, New Zealand had responsibilities extending far into the Pacific. If disaster came either from a civil or military point of view, New Zealand -would not be paralysed because of any lack of preparedness. The opinion was expressed by Mr Savage that for a long time a world war would remain an ever-present possibility. New Zealand, he said, should try to insist that a peace conference be held before and not after another great war. If Britain were involved in a general war, this country could not and would not stand aloof and enjoy undisturbed neutrality. “I am speaking tonight in terms more solemn, perhaps, than any that I have hitherto used,”, said Mr Savage. “But I wish to make it clear that no new urgent crisis, of which I am aware but you are not, compels me to speak. I give you my personal assurance that though the Government of New Zealand is being kept fully informed by the British Government of what is going on in the world, I have no secret or confidential information that tells me of a state of emergency. The international situation is bad, but I have no special reason for believing that it is any worse than it has been for some time past.

“Let no one imagine that if Britain were involved in a general war this country would or could stand aloof enjoying unuisturbed neutrality. Any attempt on our part to pursue such a policy would bring us not greater safety but greater danger. It would merely sever us from our kinsmen and friends, without conciliating the. aggressors. We could not stand aside, with arms folded, while our brethren in the British Commonw;ealth were fighting for their lives. Any such belief would be a dream —as idle as it is unworthy of us. “If we in New Zealand are to be ready to defend ourselves in war, which may come upon us with the suddenness of an earthquake, what are we to do? The answer is, we must prepare ourselves, one and all, to be able at a moment’s notice to concentrate oui’ energies on the business of a nation’s defence, of which the para--mount requirement will be a capacity in our men to take up the weapons of war and to use them skilfully, confidently and effectively against any aggressor that may come against us. But to do this our men must be trained in the use of arms and in the varied movements and manoeuvres of war—there are many ways in which service can be given.

Mr Savage went on to appeal for enrolments in the several branches of the Defence establishment, as specified above. He emphasised that the training for which he was summoning men was training for home defence—the defence of New Zealand in New Zealand.

“The defence of New Zealand is not a party matter,” said Mr Savage in a concluding passage of his address. “It is the duty of all. Herein none are for the party but all are for the State. The adequate defence of our country is within the compass of our z united endeavours.

“This country may have to be slefended—and soon. It is supremely worth defending. It can be defended, and if attacked (as it may be), it is going to be defended. Make no mistake about that.

“Therefore, I say again, to our manhood, Maori and pakeha alike, in factory, farm, shop, office, everywhere —enrol and be ready. Don’t wait to see what your neighbour is doing. Meet him at the Post Office and enrol together. The Government is doing, and is anxious to continue doing, its part. It waits only for you to offer yourselves.”