DEFENCE & FINANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1939, Page 5

DEFENCE & FINANCE

DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADVOCACY OF COMPULSORY TRAINING. ACTIVITIES OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Defence was again the main subject discussed during the Address in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Statements made the previous evening by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, were replied to by Mr Hargest (Opposition, Awarua), who spoke of defects in the present system of voluntary recruiting for territorial units. The Opposition, he said, stood for universal military training and tens of thousands of people behind the Government also supported that system. Under compulsion every man was s compelled to be an efficient soldier, but today not more than 25 per cent of the strength could be termed efficient. An appeal to the women of the country to give some help in getting young men into uniform was made by Mr Lyon (Government. Waitemata), whose speech had been interrupted by the adjournment the night before. He referred to New Zealand's sparse population and geographical isolation, and stated that in the event of hostilities this country was likely to be thrown entirely on its own resources. Financial questions were discussed by Mr Coates (Opposition, Kaipara). The Government, he said, had no one but itself to blame for the present situation. despite the fact that no administration had assumed office under more favourable terms. The insulation theory had brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy. Mr Coates also said that further restrictions on impor-, lations of New Zealand mutton and lamb into the United Kingdom seemed likely.

The last speaker was the Minister of Housing, Mr Armstrong, who referred lo the activities of the State Housing Department. He said that housing construction was being held up because of a shortage of skilled tradesmen. The House rose at 10.30 p.m. till this morn ing.