NO REFLECTION ON AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 5

NO REFLECTION ON AUSTRALIA.

PREMIER'S REPLY TO MR. J. ALLEN, M.P. Speaking to a Dominion representative last evening, the Prime Miuistor made- an explanation in regard to one portion of tho criticisms passed by Mr. James Allen, M.P., on Sir Joseph's speech at Uriper Hutt. "I do not proposo to discuss tho interview with Mr. Allen in general," said tho Prime Minister, "but I wish to correct him on 0110 point. He is reported as saying in regard to defence, 'Nor do I agree with the Prime- Minister for one moment when ho says, with regard to the Commonwealth, that what they are doing is nest door to childish.' I made no reference, whon speaking at Upper Hutt, to Australian defence, cither directly or indirectly. I fiud on reference to the report of tho address, which, though a good one, was necessarily condensed, that this portion of my remarks is given as follows:— 'The Prirao Minister pointed ont that any of the great battleships could lie seven miles away from cur principal ports and shell tho city, and to urgo that wo should co-operate with tho Australian continent in having an adequate system of submarines and destrdycrs, with the knowledge of what was going 011 in tho scientific development of battleships, was next door to childish. , I' was discussing a statement that had appeared in print aa having been publicly mado in Wellington the night before, that instead of offering a battleship to England Now Zealand should join Australia. I point-eel out that though that might bo satisfactory to the people of Australia, their circumstances wore quite- different from ours; that Australia is a large continent ijritli a population of some four millions of people; and that if we went in for such a system it would be necessary for us to provido auxiliary battleships, as destroyers and submarines in warefare without them would be nest to useless. I went on to say. that at a timo of difficulty in regard to tho British Navy a suggestion of that kind was childish tiiat to bring about an effective system of local defence meant an enormous ■ sum of money compared to anything wo wore proposing; to provido battleships as auxiliaries for destroyers and submarines meant many millions, whilo the animal upkeep would run into an enormous sum. I did not discuss Australian defence, as I recogniso that that is entirely a matter for the Australians, and I liavo been careful, in regard to public matters, to leave tho affairs of neighbouring countries to the peoplo responsiblo for their control. It will be seen from the report of the Colonial Conference in London that in regajd to Imperial defence I said that so far as tho joint naval agreemont between tho Motherland, Australia, and New Zealand was concerned, I would readily agree to any alteration of tin agreement to enable Australia to do whatever she desired under any system she thought proper. I merely wish to correct that portion of Mr. Ja.mes Allen's stajtement. Beyond that thcro is no necessity to discuss his remarks."