A CONCERN OF THE EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1930, Page 8

A CONCERN OF THE EMPIRE.

In our news of and comments on the.Naval Conference this morning stress is rightly laid upon the vital importance o£ naval defence to the Empire as a whole. The British Navy does not' defend, Britain 'alone.; It is a bulwark of'the. Dominions,, which depend for their Imperial connection and their prosperity on sea'route security. The'; naval correspondent of the, : "Daily Telegraph" says that" the emphasis laid by the Dominion spokesmen on the political and strategic unity of the Empire was the most arresting feature of/the speeches at the Conference, and he contrasts this with what he considers, the narrower view of Mr. Mac Donald. But in his .speech at the first business meeting of the Conference, in. pur news to-day) Mr.. besides laying stress on the needs of' Britain,: said that naval strength 1 was required * "to enable pur own kith ahd kin and iriembers of our Own fairiily to keep inter-relation with: the Motherland," and. pointed out that 'British ; naval forces' must necessarily be dispersed in every sea., There is no-indication in this report that Mr. Mac Donald is ignorant of the Imperial aspect of the: problem.- It is, however a good thing\that the: Dominions are represented at the-ConfeVence.: We'.may-i : be sure that, Mr. i tVilfprd' will; put New .Zealand's- case clearly t and emphatically. He'has a thorough grasp i o^^