NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9075, 15 February 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

Per Press Association. Auckland, February 13. Sir Joseph Ward at x'aeroa referred to defence matters. He said the people wanted to ensure for themselves a white race. They wanted to prevent a mixture, particularly with Eastern races; yet what were the facts? Within a few days’ sail of New Zealand there were millions of Chinese and Japanese. It was the former we had to look to. The Chinese were being educated in the arts and sciences of warfare, in the latter by men who wanted them in future for their own aggrandisement. Suppose the time should come in future years When educated Chinese were able to shoulder a gun and take their position in the field on equal terms with other nations. Could we expect a handful of people in New Zealand fcq effectually defend bhf shores against tf»efii? This, he said, was one of the dangers on the horizon, and there were evidences that it might come. Germany’s policy for a long - time had been"to build ships of war so as to be able to take part against Great Britain [should the occasion arise. For this* reason Britain refused to reduce the naval estimates. We should never have naval engnagement on the New Zealand coast. It would be in the East, off India. If Germany should win it would mean not only Great Britain but every portion of the British Empire would be beaten. The pulses that were moving in different empires, compelled us in these young countries not to neglect small matters. The increased payment under naval agreement was not being made on sentimental grounds. They were bound to insure the people against the possibility of any Power taking away their personal property. The British Navy is our first line of defence. If the last defence were swept away 'every man in the Dominion, in the event of the British fleet being beaten, would fight to preserve his