Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1939. ORGANISING FOR DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1939. ORGANISING FOR DEFENCE.

TN liis appeal to all able-bodied men in the Dominion from . ' 20 to 55 years of age to enrol in the national military reserve, the Prime Minister has emphasised that he has no secret or confidential information which tells him of a state of emergency. Every thinking man and woman will, however, find the appeal more than amply justified in facts 01. the internatioiia si ua ion which are written large for all to see. In common with many other countries New Zealand is faced by a challenge v nc can only be answered worthily by an instant and universal readiness to give the service on which our existence as a tree nation must come to depend if the work! is plunged into war.

The Prime Minister has sounded the right call. The right response is an immediate enrolment by the whole of ablebodied men of the Dominion to whom, on behalf of the nation and as its elected leader, he has meantime appealed. In a supreme emergency, if it comes, the women of New Zealand also will have their part to play.

World war is not inevitable, but the fact that matters today is that it is possible, and that it may come upon us, as Mr Savage has said, with the suddenness of an earthquake. In the present disorder pf world affairs, simple common sense demands that we should put the Dominion in the best state ol: “defence that our resources will permit. To do anything else would be to run the risk of finding ourselves helpless in face of aggression that would mean death and destruction and might well rob those who survived of all that makes life worth living.

Great efforts are being made to re-establish world peace and nowhere is it hoped more fervently than in New Zealand that these efforts may succeed. Their success, however, most certainly is not to be taken for granted. Two great nations in Europe and one in Asia are committed, under their present leadership, to a policy of international brigandage. Tn Asia, Japan is having her way, subject only to the as yet.inadequate, though heroic defensive efforts of which China is capable. In Europe a strong stand against aggression is now being taken by our own nation and others, but the outcome has yet to appear. ,

We may believe very reasonably that the tyranny of the dictatorships ultimately will collapse, but it is uncertain whether the dictators are capable, if they would, of reversing, in any circumstances short of disaster, their present policy of warmongering. There is much to suggest that they are in a measure at least helpless in the grip of the forces of evil they have generated. They are committed to the policy of extorting concessions by the use or threat of force, and probably no men could be worse fitted or placed than they are to contribute to the re-establishment of peace in the world.

Some hope may be entertained that the democracies, particularly if they secure the collaboration of Russia, may be able to enforce a. return to peace, but it is likely at best to be long enough before peace is securely re-established. Until that happy day dawns, it is plainly the part of wisdom for New Zealand, as for many other countries, to take as comprehensive measures as are possible for its defence should the need arise.

The situation now existing is one that should still the voice of party or faction so far as defence is concerned. The appeal made by the Prime Minister is one to awaken a response in the heart of every loyal New Zealander. In calling on all ablebodied men to enrol, Mr Savage has implied at least that resources of every kind will be drawn upon without stint in making every preparation that is reasonably possible for the defence of the Dominion. There will be whole-hearted approval of his declaration that there can be no question of New Zealand attempting to stand aside should Britain be involved in a general war.

Taking the position he does, the Prime Minister has every right to ask that the Government should be given the united and universal support that will enable it to discharge a supremely important national duty. We cannot hope to command the future and to establish perfect safeguards against every possible mischance, but at least it is open to us as a,people to give the lie to the belief, entertained as Mr Savage said in some countries, that democracy lacks the strength and courage to defend itself. The first great step towards demonstrating the falsity of that belief is that the able-bodied manhood of our country should declare itself ready’and willing to play a full and active part in its defence.