DEFENCE OF AUSTRALASIA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 337, 12 March 1910, Page 5

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALASIA

. LORD KITCHENER'S SCHEME. 1 AUSTRALIAN PRESS COMMENT. By Cable.—Prees Association, —Copyright Sydney, March 11. The Hernld, commenting on Lord Kitchener's New Zealand report, says it was . poor argument to settle the "question ot New Zealand's joining the Australian Federation on the score of distance, because Perth was further from Sydney and Melbourne than the latter capitals from Auckland and Wellington. Moreover, the seas unite and do not divide people of the same race. Now Lord Kitchener finds Australia and New Zealand must be taken together. In war they must be associated, and in pieparation for it. Advice which suits o'e is appropriate to the other. It would be absurd to say that these must draw New Zealand into the Commonwealth. We do mot believe anything of the ki.'rl. but not until each gets its baptism ot fire will there be any needful pressure for union. Lord Kitchener's program .re will prepare the way. There will be * combining in the near future for mutual de+ence of a mighty empire, and there will be a long step foi w aid.

MR. MASSEY'S OPINION. . By. Telegraph.—Press' Association Auckland, March 10. Mr Massey, interviewed in regard to Lord Kitchener's report, said the M'!lister for Defence says that the ne\y suggestions can be given effect t.o without increasing the taxation, but do not let us forget that Parliament increased the taxation last year by approximately £500,000 a year, and on the understanding thait the increases in Customs were to be only temparary. Parliament and the people will expect that premise to be kept, and, if adhered to, there would he doubt about our ability to finance the new scheme."

In regard to the suggestion that Australia and New Zealand should adopt homogeneous military systems, Mr Massey says that this proposal was obviously' a sound one. "The two countries," he said, '-'should so arrange their defences so as to be able to cooperate in time of danger, as it is quite certain that in the event of trouble they would have to stand or fall together. The proposal that we should send our cadets' to be instructed at the Australian Military College i,s manifestly also a good one. I agree with the Prime Minfster that this is not «i party question. It is above party. Lord Kitchener's advice to not allow personal considerations to stand in the way of efficiency must also, of course, be followed if we expect to build up a sound system of defence."

In conclusion, Mr Massey said: — ''The country as a whole is willing to do its duty from an Imperial point of view, but the new proposals, and even the provisions in the new Defence Act. RTe largely experimental, and I think we are much more likely to do the right thing in the way of our duty to the' Empire and our own.country if- we avoid plunging and make haste slowly." .