NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14524, 28 November 1912, Page 7

NATIONAL DEFENCE.

CO-OPERATION BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.

United Press Awociation-By Electric -Leiegiaph—Copyright.

SYDNEY, November 27. The Hon. G. F. Pearce, Federal Minister for Defence, in an interview, said j—"l think that public opinion in New Zealand irs the matter of Australasian defence is swinging round in our direction. Though no official proposals have been made for co-operation in defence, there has been informal correspondence between the Prime Minisj ters. resulting in the visit of Majorj General Godley, who conferred with ■ Brigadier-General Gordon, Common- , wealth Chief of the General Staff, re- '< garding plans for mutual, support in time of war." Mr Pearce added:—"That is all that can be said at present, but I think the time is not far distant when Australia and New Zealand will be found acting side by sido in the matter of defence. What has been done hitherto relates chiefly to the military side. It is impossible to foster a national patriotic spirit on a subsidy basis. We see already in the receptions accorded tho crewa of our torpedo destroyers how the national spirit is growing in the Commonwealth, and can form an idea of the strong national feeling which will bo evoked when the Australian I fleet comes into being, and it is in this J direction, I think, that'public opinion in New Zealand is now tending."

PRESS COMMENT,

NO INSUPERABLE DIFFICULTIES.

The "Sydney Morning Herald," commenting on the proposals for 00-opera-tion with Now Zealand, says:—"The proposal of a co-operative system ot defence between Australia and New Zealand presents a few difficulties, but nothing insuperable. Lord Kitchener's scheino already applies to either. Both possess a similar organisation, and the principle of service it involves is no sacrifice of any existing institutions. To combine the land forces would make an r Australasian army. Kegarding the naval aspect, the question is slightly more complicated. This, however, should prove no obstacle. We do not; presume to pose as an interpreter of the motives of New Zealand in naval policy, but it must strike an outsider that her policy may have been dictated by considerations which would have leas weight under an Australasian cooperative scheme of defence. It would bo a grievous and unnecessary burden for New Zealand alone to equip a fleet of any practical utility, but, given the opportunity of adding her resources to those of the Commonwealth, she might take a different view. If any great obstacle existed, the advantages accruing are so enormous ac to make it worth surmounting. Australia and New Zealand aro white lands. Under the shadow of Asia and Africa their future would be the same and their enemies the same. "Whether the bolt falls from the East or the West, it would not discriminate between the two. In our eyes, perhaps, the distance separating them is great, but in those of the world \ro are bulked together. Iα politics each of us may havo to "dree our own weird," l.ut in defence our problems aro identical, and, should the foreshadowed development come about; it will mark the greatest stop towards the security of Australasia yet seen."

CONTROL OF UNITS.

QUESTION IN FEDERAL HOUSE. MELBOURNE, November 27.

In the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Bruce Smith asked whether any correspondence had passed between Mr Fisher and the Imperial Government, as to changing the existing arrangement regarding tho Australian Fleet, and securing concentrated control of tho naval forces of the Empire.

Mr Fisher replied:—"The Government does not consider that tho policy of governing the naval units should be departed from. An extension of that principle of defence is considered the best for tho and all parts of the Empire. No correspondence has passed with -. view to changing tho general policy of tho, Government, and the question of concentration will be determined by events which cannot now be foreseen."

SOUTH AFRICA'S POSITION

GENERAL BOTHA'S VIEWS.

CAPETOWN, November 26. General Botha, speaking at Standorton, said that before dealing with the subject of a contribution for naval defence, they wished to givo the Defonco Act a chance of proving itself. He favoured maintaining their own fleet to protect Soutir African waters.