MR. ALLEN AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 219, 4 February 1913, Page 5

MR. ALLEN AT HOME.

THE XEW ZEALAND COXTIMIEXT. AN EXPLANATION". (Per Press Association). Wellington, Last Night. A f-alile message from London regarding the [Ton. .lames Allen's referenee to an expeditionary force of 8000 men from NVw Zealand was referred to-day to the I'rinie Minister, who was asked 'whether the Minister of Defence, in making this statement, had the sanction and concurrence of tile Cabinet and the Government. The Prime Minister explained that what Mr. Allen had slated was merely a hope that in time of danger New Zealand would furnish a contingent or contingents, as was done on the occasion of the South Africa War, when about this number of volunteer troops was despatched from Xew Zealand to the assistance of the Mother Country. The Defence Act did not contemplate the pending of expeditionary forces from the Dominion to places outside, and such a men sure would obviously have lo be sanctioned by Parliament. His reading of the cable was that 'Mr. Allen had simply said be hoped that the Dominion would, on a future occasion, if need be, furnish to the Mother Countrv aid similar to that provided in the p.ncr War.