EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 500, 6 May 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

THE CONFERENCE. INYITATIONB TO COLONIES. ; PROBABLY PEIVATE. mi TKr.Ecrurii— rms9 association—cofrniOßlJ (Bee. May 6, 0.20 a.m.) • London, May 5. i . . Representatives of t&o dominions: and cot onios have been invHxsd to a subsidiary conference on naval and military defence. .'. , The representatives will include thoso of Canada, Newfoundland, Capo Colony, Natal, tlio Transvaal, and the Orango River Colony. The proceedings, as far as is known j will foo private. They will bo opened by ihe Prime Minister, Mr. Aequrtli.' , ", . . , ■■-, AN ALLOCATION OF WORK. PRESS OPINION. a ■ " ' London, May <4. : The "Daily Graphic" describes Mr. Aβquitli's announcement with regard to the . proposed copfereiico with the oversea domin- • ions on defence matters as most gratifying. ,i What is needed, says the paper, is a dofinito understanding between. the self-governing' v ', colonics aud toe Motherland regarding their! ■ respective parts in tlio oommon duty of. do- 1 ' fending tho Empire. \ ' : ...../. The "Graphic" adds: "The dominions mil\' certainly prefer to spend their own. money in,; ,'."'• their own way, bnt there is no reason why, the respective fields*of expenditure should : not bo marked out by agreement, so as to,'/ , secure the maximum bonefit to tho Empire as \ :a whole.' , :■■':. .•:■'■ : . ■■•. ■ ■ ■.. ■ •'.■' .'.;

SIR WM, RUSSELL AS DELEGATE. (ei ij[i,toa*rn.—special cacaesroNDiin.) Chriitchurch, Mav 8. The \"Press," referring to tho proposed Imperial Navel Conference, remark The Premier : would, of course, be tho proper person to represent New Zealand, and we are glad to think that in such matter the,best interests of. tho Dominion would bo cafe in his hands, bat in ■the first session ol! a new Parliainont'it is unlikoly tbat tlio I'rcmior■ will feel at liberty to bo » London. Fortunately; tho High Commissioner hae been, np to very recently, in personal touch with, the: Government, and bo would no doubt Be able to present its view *fully on this important question(bnt ifadelogato can be sent to represent New Zealand at the Conference, we would suggest to tho Government that they should appoint as Mr. HallJohes's colleague Sir Wm, Riiseell.' Ho i« in full accord with the Government hi-its naval policy, and tho fact that he is an ex-Leader of the Opposition would bo a striking proof of the fact that in matters of Imperial welfare New Zealanders know no'party politics. The appointment, we admit, would be a novel' ■ one of .its kind, but that it would be generally ' acceptable there pan bo no doubt. ■ Sir Win, r Bussoll is tactful, dignified, and cultured,,} and would make an admirable representative.^