THE EMPIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10035, 8 July 1910, Page 5

THE EMPIRE.

■0 AND COLONIAL DEFENCEUnited Press Association—By Electric Telegraph jjh Copyright. Received July 7, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, July 7. The Earl of Onslow presided at the ' Imperial Co-operation League's luncheon. Ie Sir George Reid, Australian High Commissiorier, after referring to the waking up of the Empire, detailed Australia's plans for compuisory military training. He thought all parties in England might make this a non-party question as was done in Australia. The Australian Navy was ? going to be a particularly small, but , very vigorous one, but far stronger r was the feeling behind it. It was now i. realised that the whole of the destines e of the Empire might depend on the s fata of one,great encounter. Australt ia never perceived so clearly that her own defence ,was a part of the ? Imperial,defence.' ' Kef erring, to commerce, Sir George j thorouhgly believed the sort of prefe- ] rence enabling the country to prefer ■ its own products was first. The pro- ' ducts of other parts of the Empire . came next. That sort of preference ■ did not need acts of Parliament.} If they brought at first British and ' then Colonial goods, they would have a measure of tariff reform which did not require the Royal assent. Parliament was 'not the true centre of reforms. The true centre of national reform lay in understandings, and habits of the people. •■ • . ' . ■"■ ' "-. (