AUSTRALIAN NAVAL DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 1 July 1907, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL DEFENCE

SPEECH BY MR. DRAWS. Melbourne, Jane 29. Mr Deakin van welcomed by the Australian Natives' Association. Speaking on the naval question, he remarked •Heaven help the Empire, or any part of it, If it breaks away from the Imperial navy." No proposal had ever erased 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 political ind other heads of that navy lace to face, and he had returned, fortified by their advice and judgment, to before' hig colleagues proposals that they had not yet teen told of, which net with the entire approbation of those pnfeasiapal advisers. We had grown to What Wefwere because we had rested unite the ihelter of the British flag, but a jp%h-spij|ted people conld not be content 'it£ait stjll under the shelter of any Hag

Z oihout helping in its defence. We or might have to meet no orj Akry foes, and it might mean peril to atfwe hold most dear. If the warning

Mile home to any people it came home tolls; therefore it become ns, surely, to recollect that the time was now our own to>take advantage of the opportunity of necessary provision which should U our net supplement to the strength a Empire in these seas as far as it was HDportionately incumbent upon us. and igt be content t» see our work done for Wk which we should do. Until this duty Ha discharged we were only tenants on Hb Continent; we could not retain it. Hd we eonld not deserve it.