DOMINION NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3563, 25 September 1916, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

$ (Per Press Association)

DEFENCE MATTERS.

THK MIMST'Kri INTKItVIEWED

,IUCKLAM), Sept. 24

Replying to a- deputation of yachts-' men ye.steiv.iay regarding the motor patrol receives,, the -Minister of J)efenco said drore must bo developments ■iv New Zealand's relation to naval matters In I'ut.iive, otherwise lie would not remain in tlio Cabinet. Interviewed subsequently, Mr Alien srfid that personally he did not believe in a- money contribution to tin- Imperial Navy. The .Dominion should take its own share in thy, creation of such by providing its own units, in which New Zealanders might serve. It was never intended that there, should 'he- it s local navy, but a.'New Zealand unit. As regards military service, boards, the' Minister sai:l that the principles .upon which they would operate would bo laid down by a. mooting of the chairmen of the. rospeetivo boards, who would alr-o confer if difficulties arose in ;vln')iiustr>i'(jiori of the Act. § The LTi-eat principle, however, should be u'nifm-mit-v of judgment, so that men would noi/-be. trented harshly in one district and lightly in another. ()uestioiifd retia-rding the discharge of soldiers aflor Ihe war, Mr Allen said that t-lio. retur-n and. discharge of New Zealand troops would be gradual. Ho did not think "that''there would--be any flood in ji of tho .labour market. There would be mo extension of time for enrolment in the K-e-sprve, and shirkers won't' be prosecuted without further warning.