Naval Defence.

Manawatu Herald, 16 October 1902, Page 2

Naval Defence.

Sir Edmund Barton has arrived at Brisbane by the Vancouver liner Aorangi, and was welcomed on behalf of the Federal and State Parliaments. Sir Edmund Barton said, speaking in relecesee to the navel agreement,

in time of peace the squadron would be stationed in Australian waters, with the exception of one drill ship and one cruiser, which are to bo in New Zealand. Mr Seddon'a claims, Sir Edmund said, were much larger than these, but after full discussion, he saw the justice of the arrangement. It is part of the agreement that if the several proportions of men from •Australia or New Zealand are not available, those lacking id one colony can be obtained from the other.

The agreement is to last ten years. Provision is made that at the end of the eighth or any subsequent year, notice may be given of a desire to terminate.

Nothing in the agreement is to be taken ,to moan that the squadron is to be the only force used in Australian waters if necessity arises for a larger force. Dealing with the question of the stations to be occupied by the squadron, Sir Edmund said that in times of war its operations would be to the waters of Australasia, China, or the East Indies, where it could aicst effectively act against hostile vessels threatening the interests of Australia and New Zealand. Sir Edmund added: “We were assured during the discussion that the Imperial Government will endeavour to make Australia and New Zealand the bases for coal supplies for the squadron in Eastern waters."