EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3167, 19 April 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL FORCES. an explanation United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. MELBOURNE, April 17. Referring to the statement in the London "Times" about the placing ©f the Australian naval forces at the disposal of the Admiralty, the Minister for Defence (Hon. G. F. Pearce) states that cables were sent to the Admiralty a few days ago setting out the basis of: an agreement for the control of the local navy. The publication of portions of the proposals may indicate that the Admiralty has decided to accept them in that particular regard, but until the whole agreement is made public by the Admiralty he could not disclose its terms. The State Treasurer (Hon. W. A. Watt) proposes to suggest to Mr Fisher (Federal Premier) that he should invite Admiral Lord Charles Beresfora to visit Australia and advise the Government in regard to aaval requirements.

MANNING THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY. SYDNEY, April 17. "The Seamen's Union proposes to confer with Mr Fisher, the Federal Premier, on the question of manning the Australian navy. A CANADIAN PROPOSAL. COMMENT BY "THE TIMES." Received April 18, 4.45 p.m. LONDON, April 17. "The Times" comments on the Canadian proposal to discuss the question of Empire defence with the Admiralty, and the Australian Ministry. It was not, said "The Times,' a question of shifting the burdens but of developing fresh centra of strength, though the Meditarranean was the natural station for donated Dreadnoughts. "The Times" advises the Admiralty to apply the money from Australia and New Zealand, to the construction of such vessels as would be most suitable to visit the colonies. Still better would it be .to permit the contributed ships to cooperate with the Commonwealth fleet' of destroyers. As possibly Dreadnoughls may not be considered the best type for that station, the money might be devoted to two or three cruisers of the best sort for the purpose. "The Times" approves of Mr Fisher's Gympie speech with regard to policing the Western Pacific. Reuter has published a synopsis of the Commonwealth naval despatch.