THE DEFENCE QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 12, 2 June 1914, Page 5

THE DEFENCE QUESTION.

VIEWS OF MR. MYERS. By Telegraph —Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Among the passengers who arrived by the Niagara, was Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., who lias been on a visit to England. On being interviewed, Mr. layers expressed surprise at the num«rous invitations received to variouß public functions, at which he was called upon to speak. The Empire Parliamentary Association did everything possiblo to make his visit a pleasant and interesting one. Turning to the question of defence, Mr. Myers said this important question had never been —and he hoped would not be —treated as a party question, therefore he had spoken his own convictions with every freedom. As sound defence and national Becuritv should be the first plank in every political creed, liis views were that having regard to the present situation—that is to say, the unexpected developments in the North Sea and European waters having presumably influenced the Admiralty to deviate from tho original terms agreed upon at the 1000 conference—there was every justification fot the reconsideration of the whole position. As an outpost of. the Empire in the Pacific Ocean, which in the future was likely to I>e the main theatre of international rivalry, the time had arrived for New Zealand to prepare, commencing obviously in a small way, for such a contingency. The building up oi navies for the dominions, properly manned, trained and organised in proportion to our population and wealth, he ventured to assert, would assist in creating naval and national spirit, and, irreepectivc of it® defensive value, give the ideal ef a united Empire a fresh impetus.