EMPIRE DEFENCES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 590, 19 August 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCES.

SIR JOSEPH WARD. SATISFIED WITH RESULTS. DEAKIN ON AUSTRALIAN , SCHEME. (By Teleeraph.-Prena Ansoeiatlon.-Oonyrlght.l (Rec. August 18, 10.10 p.m.) London, August 18. Sir Josoph Ward assured a, private conference of New Zealandcrs yesterday, with reference to the Dcfenco Conference, that he would go back to New Zealand with many good results, which- justified his saying in general' terms that lie was oonfident that a very much better condition of affairs wonld exist after tho Conference than was ever the case before. Sir Joseph Ward entertained Mr. SailJones, High Commissioner, and the staff of the High Commissioner's office at. lunch in the Hotel Cecil. COMMONWEALTH'S TERMS ACCEPTED. . COST, £750,000 A YEAR. Melbourne, August 18. Mr. Deakin, Federal Prime Minister, states that ho has not received any statement from Colonel Foxtonwith reference to the acceptance of the Commonwealth's naval proposals, but, judging from the press, cablegrams, they have been accepted from first to last. The fact that the Commonwealth is to kw>p the complolest control of the boats of hor ui'it in time of peace will, no doubt, be extremely gratifying to Australians. • Tho. project does not include a Dreadnought, since such a vossol would not display its full efficiency in the oceans in the neighbourhood of Australia. The unit will consist principally of cruisers, and be one which will probably represent tho highest present development in the way of swift cruisers. The proposals also provido for harboiir 'defence, as well as arrangements for an Aus-' tralian base. Mr. Deakin estimated the cost of upkeep of the new unit at £750,000 to £1,000,000 annually. He'added:'"lt is part of the arrangement, that the Commonwealth is to'have the right to dotormine whether an emergency at any time is such as to justify Australian vessels passing to Imperial control.'.This means, in effect, that the Federal Govern- ■ ment will decide whether an emergency haß ■ arisen. - "An important feature is that the boats will, as far as possible, be both officered andmanned by Australians."