AUSTRALASIAN DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 164, 28 November 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALASIAN DEFENCE.

.„ MR. PEAECE'S VIEWS.

THE NEED FOR CO-OPERATION.

IJy Cable—Preis Association—Copyright. Sydney, November 27. Mr. Pearce, interviewed, said: "I tnmk the public opinion in New Zealand in the matter of Australasian defence is awing round in our direction. Thougli no official proposals have been made for co-operation in defence, there has been informal correspondence between the Premier, resulting in the visit of MajorGeneral Godley, who conferred with Major-General Gordon, Chief of the General Staff of the Commonwealth, regarding plans of mutual support in time of war."

Mr. Pearce added that was all that could be said at present, but he thought the time was not far distant when Aus-

tralia and New Zealand would be found , acting side by side in the matter of defence. What had been done hitherto related chiefly to the military side. It was impossible to foster a national patriotic spirit on a subsidy basis. Tney could see already in the receptions accorded the crews of the Australian torpedo destroyers how the national spirit was growing in the Commonwealth, and could form an idea of the strong national feeling which would be evoked when.an

Australian fleet came into being, ana it was in this direction that he thought public opinion in New Zealand was now tending.

NAVAL CONTROL. Melbourne, November 27. : In the House, Mr. Bruce Smith asked whether correspondence had passed between Mr. Fisher and the Imperial Government in connection with changing the arrangement regarding the Australian fleet, and securing the concentrated control of the naval forces of the Empire.

Mr. Fisher replied that the Government did not consider that the policy governing naval unity should be departed from. The extension of that principle to defence was considered best for 1 the Commonwealth and all parts of the Empire. No correspondence had passed with the view of changing the general policy of the Government. The question of concentration would be determined by events whieh could not now be foreseen. SOME WEIGHTY ARGUMENTS. IN FAVOR OF CO-OPERATION.

Sydney, November 27.

The Herald says: "The proposal for a co-operative system of defence for Australia and New Zealand presents few difficulties, none of them insuperable. Lord Kitchener's scheme already applies to either country, and both possess a similar organisation and principle of service. It involves no sacrifice of any existing institution to combine the land forces and make an Australasian army. "Regarding the naval aspect, tne question is slightly more complicated. This, however, should prove no obstacle. We do not presume to pose as an interpreter of the motives of New Zealand in its naval policy, but it must strise an outsider that the policy may have been dictated by a consideration which would have less weight under an Australasian co-operative scheme of defence. It would be a grievous and unnecessary burden for New Zealand alone to equip a fleet of any practical utility. Given the opportunity of adding her resources to the Commonwealth's, she might take * different view. Even if a great obstacle existed, the advantage accruing would be so enormous as to make it worth surmounting. Australia and New Zealand are white lands under the shadow of Asia and Africa. Their future will be the same; whether they come as a bolt from the East or West. they would not discriminate between the two. In our eyes, perhaps, the distance separating us is great. In those of the world, we are bulked together. In politics each of us may have to 'dree our own weird,' but in defence the problems are identical. Should the foreshadowed development come about, it will mark the greatest step towards the security of Australasia yet seen.

AN ADMIRAL'S OPINION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday.

Speaking at the luncheon given by the Harbor Board in honor of the visit of the naval commander, Admiral KingHall said that in his opinion we shall have a Pacific fleet comprising divisions from the dominions whose shores are washed by that ocean. He said there was no reason why the beginning should not be made by this Dominion joining force* with the Commonwealth and forming a Royal Australasian Xavy. There were no difficulties that could not be overcome by tact and statesmanship. He thought the question of building a Dreadnought dock big enough to take the largest war and merchant vessels would soon have to be considered by the very progressive Auckland Board.

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. Auckland, Wednesday. Mr. Massev. speaking after Admiral King-Hall, >..Jid that the whole of the question of naval defence was so important that it required to be reconsidered by tiie Government of New Zealand. which wns now in communication with the Imperial Government on the subject, but whatever happened lie was convinced that the people and Government of New Zealand would do their duty to the Empire.

ADMIRAL KING-HALL'S VIEWS. Auckland, Last Night. In a speech at the Harbor Board luncheon, Admiral King-Hall said that he had been asked: Is Auckland to be the naval base? There could be no doubt that it must be a secondary base in the future. Whatever the 'future naval policy of the Dominion might be, it was absolutely impossible for the Commonwealth or the Dominion to do anything but support the Old Country; and this they would always do. for they knew that the Empire stood for freedom, liberty and justice, and the bonds binding them were irrevocable to each other. Though very light, they were as strong as the finest tempered steel. He believed that in time—he was only giving his personal opinion—they would have a Pacific fleet, comprising divisions from the Dominions whose shores were washed by that ocean, and he saw no reason why a beginning should not be made by the Dominion joining forces and co-operating with the Commonwealth in forming a Royal Australasian Nnvv. There were no insuperable difficulties in the. way that could not be overcome by a very little tact and statesmanship. He added that he thought the question of building a Dreadnought dock big enough to take the largest men-of-war would soon have to be considered by the Harfbor Board.

The Prime Minister, replying to the toast of "Parliament," reviewed the proposal regarding New Zealand as it at present stands, which includes the establishment in New Zealand waters of a unit of the China Squadron—two cruisers, two destroyers, and two submarines. "In my opinion," said Mr. Massey, "(he naval position is so important that it

must be lookod into'by the people and Parliament of this country. Without disclosing Cabinet secrets, I will say thati the Government of New Zealand is now communicating with the Imperial Government on the subject. Whatever happens, I am confident that the people and the Government of New Zealand will do their duty to the Empire." (Loud and continued applause.)