NATIONAL DEFENCE
AUCKLAND MEETING URGES ACTION ORGANISATION OF LARGER I FORCE. THREE MONTHS’ TRAINING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. August 28. A unanimous expression of their conviction ■ that New Zealand is not fully prepared for a national emergency. a call to the Government to organise the whole of the manpower of the country, and a statement of their personal readiness to serve and co-op-erate. were made by Auckland business men at a meeting today. The meeting was called by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association. with whom were associated other associations of citizens. The following resolutions were adopted. and are to be brought at the earliest possible moment before the attention of the Government.’ "That this meeting of citizens of Auckland records its recognition of the magnitude of the Government's preparations for the defence of New Zealand and. in view of the gravity of the international situation, earnestly recommends the immediate establishment of a home defence force (composed of men between the ages of 20 and 35 years) to receive not less than three months' continuous training in order that officers and men may be adequately prepared to encounter any enemy force that may, in the event of war, attack New Zealand. "Further, this meeting, being convinced of the necessity for hastening the preparations for safeguarding New Zealand, also strongly recommends that immediate action should be taken to organise all other members of the community for their contribution to national defence in an emergency." MINISTER DISSENTS . UNWISE AND DANGEROUS STATEMENTS. . ACTION TAKEN ON EXPERT ADVICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A strong indication that he regarded as untimely, unnecessary and possibly dangerous the statements and resolution at the Auckland meeting yesterday was given by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in a reply telegraphed last night to the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr Arnold Ely. The telegram was as follows: — “Your telegram received. I will be pleased to meet yourself and Messrs Allum and Shove for the purpose of receiving and discussing any representations you have to make in reference to the home defence of New Zealand, and for this purpose suggest Wednesday next. August 30, at 12 o’clock noon. “At the same time I must point out that the Government has acted and is acting on the best expert advice available in New Zealand as well as that placed at its disposal by the United Kingdom Government. Your resolution will receive attention in the light of possible developments, and there will be no hesitation if need for further steps is indicated. “Meanwhile I consider it my duty to point out that such meetings and resolutions at the present time may cause unnecessary and unjustifiable alarm, and are a handicap rather than a help to those responsible for the safety of the country, while reports of some of the remarks at the meeting which have reached me, if correct, are calculated to be a discouragement to the people of the Dominion and source of danger if published abroad.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1939, Page 5
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504NATIONAL DEFENCE Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1939, Page 5
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