IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 236, 18 January 1898, Page 2

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

London, January \4W Major-General Sin Bevin Edwards occupied the chair at a lecture by Colonel Gordon, the South Australian Commandant. The lectnrer said that tho general adoption of the South Australian Defence Act would remove the chief obstacle to federal defence, rendering it unnecessary to await political federation. Great Britain, he ssid, ought to be responsible for the defence of all Australian waters except within the harbours, thus relieving the heavy local expenditure. Admiral Bowden-Sraith said the Premiers were not likely to insist on confining the fleet to Australasian waters. If necessary the Admiral could take the squadron to China despite the Premiers. In the discussion which followed, Sir John Colouib expressed regret that Great Britaiu was weak enough to renew the naval agreement with Australasia, which, he said, was founded upon tho false conception of the naval policy of Australasia. Lieutenant- General Sir Eobert Grant, Insuestor-General of Fortifications, considered the scheme of defence as embodied in the South Australian Act was far ahead of the military system of any other colony. It was even a little in advance of British legislation. Colonel E. Button, C. 8., formerly Commandant of New South Wales, said he was delighted to find that South Australia had given effect to the policy which was developed at the military conference held in Sydney. Sir Henry Norman said the Queensland Defence Act of 1884 was on the basis of the recommendations of the Sydney conference.