QUESTION OF DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13428, 21 May 1909, Page 9

QUESTION OF DEFENCE.

SPEECH BY THE HON. J. A MILLAR.

(BT OCR SPECIAL BKPORTER.) WESTPORT, May 20. The Minister for Railways (the Hon. J. A. Millar) was entertained at a complimentary banquet at Westoort this evening. The Mayor (Mr Greenwood) presided, and there was a representative gathering of citizens. Responding to the toast of his health, Mr Millar made a fighting speech on the Dreadnought question. He stated plainly that all the reasons which influenced the Government to make their famous offer were known to very few people in the Dominion; they were not known even to all the members of the Cabinet. The public had seen the cablegrams which had indicated Germany's unusual activity; but they had to take it partly on trust that the posi- • tion was extremely serious. Ho referred to the willingness of Canada and Australia to defend their own shores, and expressed the opinion that New Zealand* would, if necessary, agree to a contribution of 10s per head for the Empire's defence. The Dominion would tend some one Home to the Imperial Defence Conference who would come back with a properly formulated scheme - of defence. It was absolutely certain there was no use going in for a piecemeal schemo of defence. The Motherland was asking them to hold on to see if they could not come to one uniform eystem of defence before spending any money at all. Each of the outlying portions of the Emniro would have a •cbeme of defence which would be to the advantage of the Old Country and to all parts of the Empire. Concluding * rerr rigorous speech, Mr Millar said that when the time came for the Gov- " ernment to lay down the reins, they - would be able to render an account of '' their stewardship, which they would ' have no reason to bo ashamed of. They i had endeavoured to make for the im- " provement of the social and every other phase in the character of the people, end he was confident that the verdict -* of the people would bo that the ward " ' Administration had endeavoured to do its duty. (Applause.) * Mr-Frank Laury, Member for Pnr- *. cell, who was present, warmly sup- ■ .ported the action of tho Government, and expressed his confident opinion that ' there would not bo enough tinkers and tailors in Parliament to stop the Gov- " getting an endorsement of 'Wlat they had done. *Mir Colvin, Member for the Dist.nct, '/■poke strongly in favour of compulsory '* training, and expressed , the hope that Parliament would grapple with this fneetiqn next session.