DOMINION DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20820, 2 June 1939, Page 8

DOMINION DEFENCE

NATIONAL SECURITY PLANS FOR EMERGENCY WAR CONTINGENCIES (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH. Friday The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, this evening made a further statement on the steps already taken or now being taken by the Government to prepare the Dominion against war contingencies. “ It seems to me,” said Mr Savage, “ that the time is now appropriate to let the public, know, as far as this can be done without the disclosure of necessarily secret matters, exactly what we have done and what we are doing. I have already spoken of what has been done by and for the armed services, but the public will realise that the provision of an adequate navy, army and air force is only one of many steps that have to be taken to prepare a country for war. National Security Organisation “ The organisation of civil departments and the co-ordination of this work with that of the armed services, and, indeed, the co-ordination of the three service departments among themselves, are at least of equal importance and involve at least, an equal amount of thought and careful preparation. For this purpose the Organisation for National Security has been established and -has been busily but quietly at work for a long time. “The organisation has the same functions and is founded on the same lines as the Committee of Imperial Defence in London,” the Prime Minister continued. “ That is to say, the Prime Minister is the only permanent member and co-opts all the assistance he requires from time to time. The whole of the work of the organisation is done under the general direction and supervision of the Prime Minister’s department- “ The main function of the Organisation for National Security is to gather the necessary information for the preparation of the New Zealand Government War Book, the object of which is to provide orderly instructions for the guidance of all concerned on the outbreak of war and a complete central record for the co-ordination of all immediate Government activities in that contingency. Satisfactory Progress The Prime Minister dealt at considerable length with the methods adopted and what has been accomplished, and added: “ 1 do not wish to give the impression that the whole of the work involved has been completed, but I can assure the public that the work has made rapid and satisfactory progress. Careful thought has been and is being directed to all the necessary steps that would be required on the outbreak of hostilities. “ Should the worst happen the machinery of the Government could now turn from a peace basis to a war basis without unnecessary confusion and without the necessity in time of emergency of pausing to think out what immediate steps should be taken.” No Need for Apprehension “ I should like to add also that, after the most careful consideration, and with the benefit of the best expert advice available in this country and from abroad, the Government is convinced that there is no necessity in the present circumstances for any undue apprehension as to the safety of the civilian population,” said Mr Savage, who concluded by saying: “ I think I have said enough to assure the public that the Government is not asleep and that, so far as humanly possible In the time and with the resources at their disposal, it has taken and is taking every possible step to meet any eventuality that may arise. . . . While war may be possible, and we must prepare for it, it is still my view that common sense and international decency will prevail, and I have by no means lost hope that a long period of peace will enable us to carry out in New Zealand the tasks which we were primarily elected to perform.”