EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1669, 8 February 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

fI.M.S. NEW ZEALAND SAILS,

MR ALLEN'S OFFER,

SIR J. WARD BANQUETTED.

By Telegraph—Prcsa Association—Copyrfg-hi London, February 0.

The battle-cruiser New Zoaland has sailed on her voyage to New Zealand.

With Mr. Massoy's coneurrenco, tho Hon. James Allen offered tho Admiralty to defer tho visit of the New Zealand if tho time is unsuitable.

Mr. Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, replied thanking Mr.' Allen for the offer, "but there aro no strategical or political necessities to prevent the carrying out of tie world's tour." ■ The Navy League to-day .entertained Sir Joseph Ward at 'luncheon. Responding to a toast, Sir Joseph Ward said he look-ed-forward to tho time when tho Imperial fleet would be so eifectivo that other nations would hesitate to try conclusions with it. : •;

The Hon, James Allen paid a tribute to Australia's great sacrifice. She had spent JG4,500,000 to: protect her peoplo., Among those 'present at tho lunchoon, were the Duke and Duchess of Somerset, Admiral Lord'Charles'Beresford, Mr. W. H. Long, M.P., Lady Ward," and the Hon. T. and Mrs. .Mackenzie.

Mr. R. X Yerburg, M.P., in proposing Sir Joseph Ward's .health, 6aid that when' tho time came for : the' Dominions to answer tho question whother they would side with tho Motherland on the sea', NewZealand's response was prompt, firm, and magnificent. There was no name higher than Sir Joseph Ward's on the Empire's roll of honour.'

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said he was anxious to see Empire, defence removed from, party politics.

Mr. Alien, in. responding to tho'toast "Imperial Defence," said Britain had bo long been safe that perhaps danger was not felt. They sometimes wondered whether-Britain was quite awake. The gift ship ; was a visible evidence, of .what New. Zealand-was prepared to do. Ho ventured,to say that New Zealand was even moro patriotio than the Motherland. The Dominion was prepared to roako still- greater sacrifices, for there must bo a ,permanent and not a spasmodio sacrifice. : Australia .was, making a. very, great sacrifice, not that she might separate from the Empire, but to consolidate it. Neither could it be supposed that Canada had yet-reached, a stage at whioh she, was satisfied to remain. ,

ANOTHER DEED OF PATRIOTISM! (Rec. February 7,10.15 p.m.) ! ' ■m, ._ ■'•„ULondon, February 7. The. Daily Mail" applauda New Zealand's offer to defer the sailing of tho New Zealand,. It says this adds yet another to the many , deeds of patriotism whichi have laid Britain under such a heavy debt;' . > •

IMPERIAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE. London, Fobmary 6. The Hon. James Allen, New- Zealand Minister .for Defence, attended a meoting of the Imperial Defence Committee.

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE SCHEME. ; London, February a At tho Leather-sellers'', dinner, '.Sir Joseph Ward, i?K6 was" the principal' guest, in proposing tho'toast of the "Imperial 'Forces," said that practically every man and woman in New Zealand favoured compulsory military service. While' Sir Joseph Ward thought that tho internal military dofenco of the country' should be based on tho compulsory system, they: had no right to expect New ' Zealandera to. be sent to military service outside oxcepb as volunteers; -i

AUSTRALIAN RESENTMENT. Melbourne, February 7. There, is some feeling.- of: resentment in official ciroles because'so much comment has-arisen over the inspection of , the battle-cruiser New Zealand, and -because of the references in the English press to this as the.first start on the part of the overseas : Dominions ..to build their; own fleet units. , It'is questioned here whether the decision of New Zealand to build a battleship, or even'the'.earlier gift of a Dreadnought, was really the first step in that direction in Australasia. It is suggested, rather, that Australia should bo given, the credit for having. led ', the colonies in that Imperial movement. ■It has been, remarked among defence authorities that the cruiser Melbourne left Britain only the other day fully manned by an crcw, and that there was no such demonstration on : the occasion of her departure as was made-in connection with : the inspection .'of the New Zealand, nor was. there , any similar celebration when either of the Australian destroyed left England. .The inference drawn is that.there are officials of Australia who are not so,learned in the art of /advertising as those of the . sister colony.

In view of tho controversy that has arisen in Australia, it i 3 worthy of note that-neither Australia nor New Zealand was the first colony to offer a-battleship to the Imperial authorities. In 1897 Cape Colony offered fthe cost of a first-class .battleship, out subsequently arranged ins!ne?l n , ' pay , ai V, annual subvention of £30,000 towards;the cost'of, tho Imperial Navv, this being equivalent to tho interest on the sum originally suggested. It was 'V 0 1!?! 'S ol L^, emolatc this Patriotic offer.that a first-class .cruiser was named the Good Hope. . ■/