OPPOSITION AGAIN CONFOUNDED.

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

OPPOSITION AGAIN CONFOUNDED.

♦ MR. ALLEN & EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. TEXT OF, THE STATEMENT. At the end of January a cable message summarised an interview t in which, the Hon. ,Tas. Allen mentioned to a London interviewer the idea of an expeditionary force. It will bo remembered that tile Opposition press persisted in attacking ill-." Allen tor having made "a definite offer" to ship away "forced" men.

The London papers of January 31, to hand by yesterday's mail, contain the text of-the interview, which was given to a representative of Keuter's and published in most of the papers on the morning after Mr. Allen's arrival in London. We quote in full from the ".Morning Foil":— ".Speaking to Heater's representative on the subject of co-operation for defence between New Zealand and Australia, the Minister said: 'The various portions of the Umpire in the Pacific must work together. Unity is essential there for effective defence, and there mnst be . close relation for this purpose. An important question I have to discuss is the organisation of a New Zealand expeditionary force for Kmpire service. We want to be in a 'position to say to the Mother Country, that we have always at her disposal a permanent organisation by which, we can send about 1 eight thousand 'men to any part of our Umpire where their services may be needed, provided the sea-way is open for them to go. These men will, of course, vbe volunteers. Without naval suprema'cv we cannot send them. If wo help the-'.Mother Country she nuist keep the sea-way open. If the Empire is to hold together it will be necessary for those in Great Britain to utilise the only means that will keep it together, that is,to "Hide the local movements.that represent local patriotism and thought, and by this means keep them constantly in. touch wilii Empire organisation.'" It will be noted that Mr. Allen made 110 "definite offer" and emphasised the fae.t that "these men will, of course, be. volunteers."