Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1942. DANGER COMES NEARER.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 February 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1942. DANGER COMES NEARER.

MOST people in this country no doubt will agree wdh the r Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) that while the fall of Singapore has brought danger nearer to our shores, there is no room for foolish or frantic panic. There is in fact much less chance of panic breaking out in New Zealand than that the dangers now developing may be increased by a casual and.happ)-go lucky outlook in a considerable part of our population. _ The Government will best avert any danger of that kind by giving a purposeful and resolute lead in every useful form of war preparation that is practicable—primarily in the mobilisation and organisation of the largest fighting force that can be equipped, but taking account also of all supplementary measures of defence that are of practical value.

While it is right and necessary that the Government should call, upon the people to do their duty and to be ready for any burdens and sacrifices that the defence of the Dominion .may entail, it is not less important that in these critical days we have every right to make, as a people, serious calls upon our Government. In time of war, powers of control and diiection of necessitv are centralised to a far greater degree than in out normal democratic practice. A correspondingly serious responsibility rests on those to whom these enlarged and extended powers are entrusted. At present only the members of the Government and their principal advisers can have a really full knowledge of the extent to which the Dominion is organised tor its own defence and of what further measures may be taken profitably to that end.

It is plain enough to any moderately intelligent observer that we are sufficiently exposed to the danger of raiding or more serious attacks to make it well worth while to go to the limit our human and material resources will permit in strengthening the defences of the Dominion and in doing what may be done, by well-considered measures of dispersal and in other ways, to lessen the vulnerability of possible targets of enemy attack and to set limits to the damage that would be done should attacks develop. Only the Government and its advisers can know whether everything that should be done in these ways and others is being done.

There should be demanded of our Government what is now being demanded of the British Government —a ruthless search for efficiency in war preparation and effort, “without regard for tilings or persons.” These standards of control and direction are demanded definitely, as matters stand, with reference to the organisation of the defence of the Dominion, as well, of course, as in regard to our contribution to the total Allied war effort.

Amongst other things, it is most essential that the Government should satisfy itself that the highest attainable standards of efficiency in military leadership are established in the Dominion. Standards that were regarded as adequate while our part in the war was that of a depot country, at a long distance from the areas of actual warlike operations and with only our fighting forces entering those areas, may need to be overhauled extensively now that we are definitely liable to be attacked in our own territory.

It is inconceivable that any call the Government may make upon the people of the Dominion for the maintenance of its security will not be met with ready loyalty. A resolute call to action will best correct an apathetic or indifferent attitude and outlook in any part of the population. The immediate war outlook very obviously demands that an end should be made of apathy and indifference where they exist. Above all it demands that our political leaders should refrain from no call on the people of the Dominion for effort that will help to build up and strengthen its defences and enable us to meet attack, should it come, in a nutnner worthy of the Anzacs of this generation and the last.