DOMINION DEFENCE SCHEME.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8361, 22 February 1913, Page 7

DOMINION DEFENCE SCHEME.

me EWELXN "WRENCH UtPRESSED. Pleas Aiwfff !, '"i < r inTl - i AUCKLAND, February SSL The honorary organiser of the Ovt*v seas Club, Mr Eveiyn Wrench, accompanied by Mias Wrench, returned W Auckland to-day, after fourteen week* tour through the dominion. During their visit uiey have addressed branches of the Overseas Club in every centra of importance from Auckland to Invercargill. Mr Wrench made many interesting observations daring the tour, especially in matters pertaining to defence. "When a “Herald” representative asked him for his opinion on the compulsory military training law of the Dominion, ho said that ho was delighted with the way the people were entering into it. “ Even lads themselves,” ho said, “ are taking keen interest in their military work, and that is an excellent sign. I have read and heard a good deal about opposition to the scheme, but as far as I could see there was very little, and what there was seems to bo diminishing.” Coming to the subject of naval defence, Mr Wrench said that as far as Now Zealand’s position was concerned affairs were in rather a nebulous state,, but he had no doubt that ultimately a Pacific fleet would be the solution of the -whole problem—a fleet made up from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The idea that New Zealand would be sufficiently protected by a small division of the China fleet was only tinkering with the whole naval question. After Mr Allen’s ' visit Homo, however, Mr Wrench said that he had no doubt that a satisfactory arrangement regarding the whole question of the Pacific naval defence would be arrived at.