NAVAL DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 92, 18 April 1913, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE.

NEW ZEALAND'S POLICY.

CO-ORDINATED EFFORTS

WITH BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA

<By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

LONDON, April 17. Mr James Allen (New Zealand Minister of Defence and Finance) leaves for Canada to-day. In an interview yesterday Mr Allen said that he had had discussions with the Admiralty and the Imperial Defence Committee on the question of the adoption by New Zealand of a permanent policy of naval defence.

The information that he had acquired, lie said, would be of the greatest value in pointing out to the New Zealand Government what policy it ought to adopt. The ideal scheme, Mr Allen stated, was that New Zealand's policy should be coordinated with the Admiralty's and Australia's.

Mr Allen also slated that the War Office had been most sympathetic, and had given him its best advice concerning the question of the organisation of a New Zealand expeditionary force for Empire service.

It was added by Mr Allen that he found that everyone desired the establishment of closer relations between the various parts of the Empire, but he did not think that everyone here understood the question as it presented itself to a New Zealander or an Australian.

It was a great pity, he said, that more Imperial statesmen could not visit New Zealand and Australia.

At the Colonial Institute's luncheon the Premier of Quebec (Earl Grey) farewelled Mr. .Tas. Allen. He announced that the Institute had arranged with Mr. Allen to deliver addressee in Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg.