NATIONAL SECURITY

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 15

NATIONAL SECURITY

j CO-ORDINATION SCHEME. IN OABE OF EMERGENCY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The existence of an organisation for national seourity, established by the Government to deal with any national crisis or emergency that may arise, was again mentioned by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, to-day. ‘‘The organisation, which represents a comprehensive range of interests, is equivalent in prinoiple to the Committee of Imperial Defence in Britain,* Mr 6avage said. “The organisation, in addition to co-ordinating all branohes of defence, is concerned with ooping with situations that may arise through an epidemic or an earthquake disaster, or similar unforeseen events requiring Instant emergency measures. “If it did come to a declaration of war everyone would have some idea what would happen to our export trade. It would mean the reorganisation of our internal economy, and we have to have a maohine ready for action to accomplish this. “Apart from any considerations of war, we have our'economic life to maintain,” Mr Savage continued. “The objective of this organisation Is to be In a position to deal with any form of crisis. We do not want to have to nun round and get the organisation together when we are in the middle of a crisis.” DOMINION DEFENOE. STATEMENT OF POLICY. ANNOUNCEMENT IN FEW DAYS* (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. A statement on the Government’s defence policy in New Zealand will be made by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, within the next week or 10 days. This announcement was made by Mr Jones at a luncheon given to-day by the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association. “I am sorry I cannot tell you Just now what is being done about the land forces,” he said, "because I am not in a position to release the statement. We realise that we have not had satisfaotion in the past with our land forces, and when I say that I am oasting no reflection on the staffs, who have been carrying on very well in the face of difficulties. I hope to make a statement within a week or 10 days about the land servioes in New Zealand, and the Government will bear in mind the neoesslty for the closest co-operation between the three servioes. This Government is fully alive to its responsibilities from the defence point of view.” Mr Jones also made an appeal to employers to show their praotioal sympathy with the work for the defence of New Zealand by placing no obstacle In the way of young men ; who wanted to go Into camp. He i suggested that where possible their sympathy should take practical form |by allowing their employees full pay j while they were In training. . DANGER OF INVASION. DR. C. J. ROLLS’ VIEWS. The remarks of the Right Hon. M. J. Savage to the effect that New Zealand’s first line bf defence lay In a greater population were oommented upon by Dr. G. J. Rolls, the wellknown theologist, who addressed a large gathering in the Alexandra Hall i last evening. The speaker -said that if ! the Government did not defend what was already in existence in the Dominion It was of no use hoping for a greater population. New Zealand was not Immune from invasion, and the Government would have to see that adequate defence was afforded the people in the form of arms and ammunition. The British Empire was endangered by German operations in the North Sea, Italy Jn the Mediterranean, and Japan in the Paolflo. It would be quite easy in these days of modern warfare for aeroplanes to Invade New Zealand without warning. Italy was now raising a large army to Invade Egypt and Arabia, once her ; occupation of Abyssinia was made secure, and she would undoubtedly , employ native troops. This ooloured j peril was now worse than ever before.