EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 28, 1 February 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

JTEW ZEALAND'S SHARE, EER. ALLEFS VIEWS. (Received s a.m.) LONDON. .January 31. The New Zealand Minister for Defence. Jlr. ,lames Allen, in the o.iirse of an interview, said the full burden of the Pacific fleet should i.c borne by those living in the Pacific Ocean, and he was of opinion that Cai.ada. Australia. New Zealand, and even South Africa should unite for that purpose. Local navies fur local purposes were useless, said Mr. Allen. They must be under one control. The Minister said New Zealand hoped to be able to pla.-e an expeditionary force of eight thousand at the disposal of the Mother Country for service in any part of the Empire. The "Pall Mall Gazette," referring to the statement by Mr Allen with regard to the N.Z. expeditionary force, says that this is another instance of the Dominion'= patriotism. "If." continues the newspaper, "the other Dominions would organise -imilar forces it would yield an army ready fur service almost equalling England's expeditionary force. The "Gazette" thinks thai in the meantime it will be necessary to establish Imperial control of the trade Toutes between the Motherland and the overseas Dominions.