DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 112, 27 September 1912, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

SOUTH AFRICA'S DUTY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Capetown, September 25 Dr. Stuart, in opening the Unionist campaign at Durban, averted that it was iimligmhed :iikl unfair to accept Br:t>h naval defence for nothing. The first thing the Unionists would do on coining into power, would be either to increase the contribution or form nn auxiliary fleet so that South Africans could stand alongside Canadians and Australians in maintaining the stability of the Empire.

CANADA AM) TV.E FLEET. London, September 25. The Toronto corespondent of the Daily Mail states that the Cabinet has ■ecided to ask for a vote for three superDreadnought* in November, hut will leave the permanent naval policy to the future. If the Canadian fleet materialised, the Dreadnoughts would form pt.rt •f it, meanwhile they v. ill be at the disposal of the Admiralty.

Received 20, 10 p.m. London, September 26. The Daily Mail displays a Melbourne cablegram regarding Canada's three Dreadnoughts.

AN IMPERIAL TRIBUNAL. London. September 25. Lord Haldane, speaking at Dunbar, said that without meddling in the affairs of the Dominions he hoped to provide a unique and remarkable Imperial tribunal unlike any in the world. Lord Haldane, in his speech on being made a freeman of the Cjty of Dunbar, said three links of the Empire were—The Committee of Imperial Defence, affection for the Crown, and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. He hoped to still further develop the importance of the committees.

THE DEFENCE COUNCIL. Received 2fi. 10 p.m. London. September 26. Mr. Fisher, interviewed, cannot see the advantage of the Dominion's representatives upon the Imperial Defence Council, who would sooner or later be out of touch with the people represented, »nd become dead channels where the Government's policy would flow. Triennial consultations were the better plan, and it was desirable that New Zealand should foin Australia and unite to defend. A leading article in the Daily Mail says that Australia has been bitterly critcised by certain pacificists, who realise that the virile example may be eontagious to Britain, but when the world was full of Powers armed to the teeth, such precaution is necessary for ■ational existence. Australia was acting with supreme patrioi-m in determining, if she has to fight, that it will be with an- army and not with a disorganised mob. The article similarly commends New Zealand.