THE FIRST LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 4

THE FIRST LINE.

The brief summary of the remarks of tile Federal Prime Minister on defence is worthy of note. "Australia's leading problem,"' says JVlr. Bruce, 'Ma to make sure that Australia is to remain ours, and to provide for our own defence. There is only one way to do that —by a well-considered plan of Imperial naval defence/ This does not make it clear whether he favours continuation of the local naval policy, or direct contribution to the cost of the Imperial Navy, or a combination of both. What is important in the statement is its insistence on the need for a strong Imperial Navy .and the duty of Australia to defend herself. Mr. Bruce has been a delegate to the League of .Nations, and lie believes that some day it will be able to assure the peace of the world, but not now. The statement is particularly important in view of tiie fact that none of the Dominions is taking anything like its share of naval defence, and that the whole question will be considered at the forthcoming imperial Conference in the light of Britain's plain warning that she cannot go on bearing so disproportionate a part of the burden. The Dominions are sponging on Britain for naval protection, and Britain is getting tired of it. Australia, and New Zealand are practically defenceless so far as their own

efforts go. Xew Zealand must face the situation together with other units of the Empire group. The sea is the first line of defence, and the bulk of the money that, we find for this purpose sTiould go to the Kavy.