DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9601, 22 September 1909, Page 5

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

! BILL INTRODUCED IN FEIERAL HOUSE. Received September 22, 12.50 a.m. MELBOURNE, Sept. 30; Mr J Cook (Minister for Defence) introduced the Defence Bill, which was read a first time. The Opposition objected to tnking the second reading, and the closure was applied the second reading being proceeded with. Several members of the Opposition thereupon left the Chamber, Mr Cook, in explaining the Bill, said that Australia had grown to manhood, and it was time they | looked the question of defence fairly in the face. They had to keep up the ideal of a White Australia, but he questioned if the country ought t> depend upon Britain to enforce that ideal which did not appeal much to people in Britain. Then regarding the forces guarding tha Pacific they were absolutely depending on the treaty with Japan for the preservation of the peace of the P.icific Islands, and the preparations for the future must keep the safety of the Empire in view. The Government accepted the view that a fuller Imperial partnership was indispensable in regard to the condition of Empire defence. He explained that the new naval scheme provided for a cruiser of the Indefatigable type, three armoured cruisers of the Bristol class, six destroyers of the improved river class, and three submarines at a total CQst of £3,750,000. The annual cost of upkeep wculd be £750,000. The Imperial Government would for some time pay a quarter of the annual upkeep. The controlling of the Western Pacific would be undertaken by. the Australian unit in conjunction with the New Zealand section of the China unit.