OUR DEFENCE SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1130, 18 May 1911, Page 2

OUR DEFENCE SYSTEM.

VIEWS OF ME. JAMES ALLEN. ißy Telephone—Special Correspondent.) ; Auckland, May IC. . Tho Dominion's system of defence was dealt with by Mr. ;James Allen in his speech last "evening; Speaking first of the registration of men lor training, Mr. Allen said that the number of youths and men between tho ages of 11 and 21, who had been enrolled in the Auckland district, was larger than that in any other district, and he congratulated them upon the' enthusiasm with which the schemehad been taken up. In tho circumstances of the times efficient preparation for defenco was the only menus of maintaining peace. Socialists and working men who had organisations that could bo made world-wide had a great opportunity to .bring about world-wide peace, but until those organisations were in a position to say that peace was assured it would bo absolutely foolish to neglect the defence of the country. While he warmly conir mended the measures that had been adopted to train »ml equip the men of tho Dominion to defend its shores, and, if need arose, and they volunteered to do so, to afsist the Empire in some other part of its Dominions, he pointed out that little or nothing had been done- for the protection of New Zealand's trade routes. The Mother Country had proposed that ileet units .should be maintained in British waters, in tho China Seas, and in Australian waters for the protection of the Empire's commerce. ' The Prime Minister of New Zealand had asked the Home authorities to reduce the strength of the China Fleet unit by sending two or three unarmoured cruisers, two or three torpedo boats, and two submarines to New Zealand, and no , doubt those vessels would be stationed at Auckland. "I don't think you can accept this as a satisfactory solution of our difficulty," raid Mr. Allen. "The vessels will be paid for by the British taxpayers, and tho only contribution which New Zealand will make- will bo the differeneo between the wages paid in English waters and thoso paid in New Zealand waters. I don't think a self-respecting community like New Zealand eau put up with this very long, and I admire tho independence of the Australians, who when England was prepared to give them a Quarter of a million to help them in establishing their fleet determined to provide for themselves and not to take the money. If would have been better if we had adopted what 1 believo was the original suggestion from the Imperial authorities that, they should pav for Ihe Dreadnought presented by New Zealand, and that we should provide our own (lect unit. Australia, proposed to co-operate with New Zealand, but tho offer was refused, and the position is now strategically unsound. There is no organisation and no concentration, both of which are essential."