DEFENCE AND TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 863, 8 July 1910, Page 5

DEFENCE AND TRADE.

SPEECH BY SIR GEORGE RE ID. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec. July 7, 9.30 p.m.) London, July 7. Lord Onslow presided to-day at a luncheon given by tho Imperial Co-opera-tion League, a body of which he is president, and which was formed last year to promote tho closer union of'the Empiro on non-party lines. Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia, referring to the waking up of tho Empire on defence matters,' detailed Australia's plans for compulsory military training. He thought all parties in England might mako.this a non-party question, as in Australia. ■ The Australian Navy, said Sir George Reid, was going to be particularly email, but very vigorous, but far stronger was tho feeling behind it, for it was now realised that the whole destinies of the Empiro might depend on. tho fate of ono great encounter. Australia had never before perceived so clearly that her own defence was a part of the Imperial defence. Referring to Imperial commerce, Sir Georgo Reid said ho thoroughly believed in some sort of preference enabling the country to prefer its own products first, and tho products of other parts of tho Empire next. That sort of preference did not need Acts of Parliament. If they bought firstly British and then colonial goods they would liavo a measure of tariff reform not requiring the Royal Assent. Parliament was not the true centre of reforms. Tho true centre of national reform lay in the hearts, understandings, and habits of tho whole people.