IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 4

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

f POSSIBLE VISIT OF MB, CHURCHILL, In tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr. A. M. Myers (Auckland East) gave notice to ask the Primo Minister: "Whothcr, in view of tho suggested visit to Canada of the First LorU of th« Admiralty (accompanied possibly by a battleship squadron) with the object of placing on a firmer basis tho Imperiul relations between Canada and the Mother Country in matters of defence, ho will communicato with tho Primo Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, with a view to sending a joint invitation to Mr. Churchill to extend his visit to tho Australasian colonies so that tho Commonwealth and Dominion Governments may bo in a position to, obtain at nrst-hn.ua reliable information, which will enable thorn to formulate- a policy of common defence based on a practical federation of the Empire?" Ho added, in an explanatory note: "This would Ik especially advantageous to New Zealand, as no members of the present Government have been privileged to hear the secrets of defence and foreign policy laid baro by the Imperial Defence Committee, It is also admitted on all sides that the visit of Lord Kitchener was of incalculable benefit in tho inauguration of tho compulsory military training 6oheme, and it is equally apparent that a visit from the First Lord of tho Admiralty, besidos serving the above purpose, would nob only stimulate interest throughout tho "Dominion in-Imperial matters, but would tend to enlighten tho pcoplo on tho facta which dictate Great Britain's foreign policv. The occasion would also afford a un'iquo and valuable opportunity for a conference on matters of defence between Australia and New Zealand."