AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 328, 2 March 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE

A PATRIOTIC UTTERANCE. SIR GEO. REID INTERVIEWED. By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright Received 1, 10.50 p.m. London, March 1. Sir George Reid, interviewed, said that Lord Kitchener's visit was one of the most important events in Australian History. Until lately the impassion of Britain's naval preponderance made the problems of colonial deience more or less unimportant, but in the past two years the Australian mind on .the subject 'hatl completer nitered. Australia sees, as she neve:- s ; uv before, the urgency of the call the Old Country is making on he r daughter lands to help her 'in the growing pressure that the advance of other nations is placing upon her. All political parties in Australia were ripe for some decisive action before Lord Kitchener arrived, although there was no one there with requisite authority or experience. Tlnre were any number of schemes, but no author in whom the Government or the .people could .place implicit confidence. Lord Kitchener arrived at the psychological moment, and gave Australia a ,policy which the Commonwealth would purely and earnestly carry out, and ultimately, m a very few years, the navy t»nd army of the Commonwealth would count for a great deal in the politics of the Empire. Sir George Reid emphasised the fact that the naval loan, representing the noble beginning of Australia's part in the recognition of her obligations to the Motherland, must commend itself strongly, if financial houses can be influenced sentijnent's. Be dwelt on the absolute safety of BritisTf investments in Australian public enterprises, and spoke of Australia's need for immigration. A GRATIFYING RECEPTION. London, March 1. The newspapers publish eulogistic notices of Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia. Sir George Reid was met at Charing Cross by Sir Charles Lucas and Mr. Lionel Earle, on behalf of Lord Crewe, the Commonwealth representative and the Agents-General. KITCHENER'S SCHEME COMMENDED. Sydney, March 1. The Daily Telegraph, in commending Lord Kitchener's advice that Australia ■«nd New Zealand should act together as regards defence, says the suggestions that New Zealand candidates for commissions should attend a Commonwealth military college will appeal to every reflective mind. Not only would 'military efficiency be thereby promoted, but a valuable tie, would be found for uniting New Zealand and Australia, "in that most powerful of national bonds, identity of interest in face of a common peril.