THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2120, 1 July 1907, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON.

MR. DEAKIN’S VIEWS. United Press Association—Copyright MELBO UENBr-Jnno —zm Mr. Deakin was welcomed by the Australian Natives’ Association. Speaking on the naval Auesion, 'he remarked, “Heaven help the Empire, or any part of it, if it breaks away from* the Imperial navy.” No proposal had ever crossed his mind, and none would ever emanate from the present Commonwealth Government, which would imply any break away from the Imperial navy. It had been his privilege to; consult with the political and other heads of the navy face to face, and he 'had returned fortified by their advice and judgement to lay before his colleagues proposals they had' not yetobeen told of, winch met with the entire approbation of those professional advisem. We had grown to w-hat we were because we had rested under the shel-

ter of the British flag, but a highspirited people could not be content to sit still under the shelter of any flag -without helping its defence. We or our children might have to meet , no ordinary foe. It might' mean peril to all we hold most dear. If the warning came home to' any people ■* it came home to us: therefore, it"** behoved us surely to recollect that the time was now our own to take ad- . vantage of the opportunity of making the necessary provision, which '{ should be to suppement and strengthen the Empire in these seas as far as it was proportionately incumbent upon us, and not to be content to see our work done for us which we •»- should do. Until this duty was dis-H: charged we - were only tenants -on /* .this continent; we could not retain I it; we could not deserve it: