MR. ALLEN IN LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1696, 12 March 1913, Page 8

MR. ALLEN IN LONDON.

INTERESTING INTERVIEW. LOCAL AND IMPERIAL AFFAIRS. THE DEFENCE ISSUE. In its issue of January 31 the London ".Morning l'ost" gives prominence to a long and interesting interview® witli the Ron. Jas. Allen, who had arrived in London on the preceding evening. The "Post" says:-

Colonel Allen informed a "Morning Post" representative last night that, although profoundly interested in Imperial questions, lie did not propose to make any reference to any suen matters during Ins stay in England, except so fir as they directly concerned -the .Dominion he represents, and even then lie would not presume, he said, to give anything moro l nan the New Zealand point of view. Wlisu csked about imperial preference he said:

"That is just one of these questions upon which 1 can speak here only as a ;\ew Zealander. We in New Zealand have given the .Mother Country a preferential tariff rate on goods of British production, but whether Great Britain ilecules to reciprocate or not is a matter far the British electors to decide. Most certainly wo do not want to interfere in British politics." To the further question as to whether the new Ministry, of which Colonel Allen is a member (it has been in office only since July last), would continue the preferential tariff policy of their predecessors, lie replied: "Certainly we will. It is_a policy upon which all political parties iu New Zealand are agreed. If we made any change at all it would bo in the direction of extending the preference. I do not suggest that we propose doing that, but so firmly rooted is that policy in our fcountry that if wo had any development at all ill this matter it would bo iu the direction of lowering the - duties on British goods rather' than raising them."

Finance and Public Works. Dealing witb the immediate objects of his mission to this country, Colonel Alien said that he put finance lirst, because it was the most xwessing and of the greatest immediate importance to Xew ■ fceuland.

"We have," lie slated, "large areas of land capable of greatly increased production by means of closer settlement, vast resources insufficiently developed, and works of public utility in rclatio\.to tlio development of the 'jJominion. • awaiting 'execution. Naturally now, as in thie jiast, we come to the world's financial centre, London, to find the necessary capital 'to assist us in this work." The iiiuister explained that thero were existing NewZealand loans to the amount of .£1,500,0(10 falling: due in London Uui'injj the next year or so, and they would have to be arranged l'or by way of renewal, or what practically amounted to the same thinga r.ew Iran offered to the present holders in lien of the old stock. But renewing old obligations would not bo sufficient to meet New Zealand's requirements. "We are," said Colonel Allen, "opening up large areas of country by dividing some of the existing large areas into small freeholds. This is one of the principal features ills the programme of the Massey Ministry, but in-order to be successfully curried out it must bo financed by the State. Then there arc railways to be built) and as these railways not only promote the settlement and prosperity of the country, but pay a profit 011 the expenditure in construction and working, further railway extensions will not only, constitute a good policy for-the country, but provide a sale and sound investment for the British capitalist. Capital 'is also wanted for building roads and bridges, which in a country like ours are indirectly reproductive works, for they open lip districts otherwise inaccessible and increase tiis value of the Crown-' lands, thereby enriching the public estate as well ;.s . promoting settlement. All these are matters which cannot suffer by being presented to the British public by a responsible Minister, and as the Massey Ministry are committed to a vigorous public lyorks and land settlement policy they thought it advisably that the Finance Minister should visit London to. present these matters fairly and frankly in the quarters interested, and to make the necessary financial arrangements ;for the immediate future,"

Australasian Naval' Policies. Colonel Allen proposes to seek an early audience of the Admiralty authorities for the purpose of discussing naval defence in the. Pacific. The Australian* Commonwealth is ■ building its own navy, while New Zealand preferred to make its contribution towards Imperial defence take the form of the offer of a battleship to form part bf the .Imperial Navy. The Australian Government have, liowever, suggested that the defence of the Pacific is a question on which Australia am! New Zealand and possibly, also Canada and South Africa might combine to act in co-operation with the Admiralty with a view to the creation of a separate Pacific Fleet. Another suggestion emanating from the same ■Government is that this question mi'ht form the subject of a Defence Conference of representatives of all the Dominions concerned and of the Admiralty at some place within the Dominions—preferably Vancouver. It is known that Colonel Allen had an interview with the Commonwealth Prime Minister (Mr. Fisher) and the Commonwealth Defence Minister (Mr. Pearcel in ' Melbourne on his way to England from New Zealand, but it is not known whether any progress has been made towards carrying out any of the above-mentioned suggestions. It; is, however, known that the Commonwealth Government do not attach any importance to the concession lately made by the Imperiul Government and so much prized by Canada, that the Dominions might be represented on the Committee of Imperial Defence. The Australian Government think they are too far from England for frequent consultations between their Defenco Minister and the members of the Imperial Defence Committee, while it would be impracticable for the. Minister to reside in England, and undesirable that the representation of the Commonwealth on the committee should be delegated to anybody other than'a Minister. Colonel Allen appears to take a somewhat similar view. "The proposal lias a practical value in the case of Canada," he said yesterday, "because Canadians are sufficiently near to England to make frequent consultations practicable. But I cannot-see in what way New Zealatld can take .advantage of the.. Imperial Government's offer with advantage. Nobody but <v Minister could adequately represent us on the Imperial Committee, and if ho made England his residence, as lie must; he would possibly soon fret out of touch with his colleagues at the other.end of tji'o world. In any case the committee is not an executive authority; it is merely an advisory body, and T am inclined to-tliinlc that frequent consultations between the Dominion and the Imperial authorities may serve all'present purposes."

Compulsory Military Training. The Minister is proud of the results of tho recently-instituted system of compulsory military training in New Zealand, and very indignant with- the authors of the campaign of misrepresentation which has been carried on in certain scclions of the British press. The present Ministry inherited the compulsory system from their predecessors, but they thoroughly approve of it, and tho only chango t.tiey havo inado in the lav.- is to exempt boy's between twelve and fourteen years from military training. They are, however, subject to compulsory physical training between the ages named; after fourteen they pass into the ranks of tin; cadets, who are militarily trained, and after eighteen they graduate as Territorials, in which, cnpacity they are. still subject to compulsory military training for a period of years. "So far," said the Minister, "the system has' worked admirably, with almost unanimous acceptance among all sections of .the public and among all parties in Parliament. We find that it is not only valuable from a military point of view, but also as a system of national physical culture." Colonel' Allen, who will lie accomminied during his stay in England by Mrs. and Miss Allen (they are remaining on the Continent for'another fortnight), and by his private secretary, Mr. I'. CI. Matthews, v.ill make Queen Anne's Mansions his headquarters during his visit, which will extend over two months, rin another column we print, a Tieufor interview with Mr. Alien concerning tho idea of an expeditionary force.]