DEFEND THE EMPIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 68, 22 March 1910, Page 2

DEFEND THE EMPIRE.

♦ NEW ZEALAND'S DUTY. SPEECH BY HON. J. A. MILLAR. At the dinner given in the Hotel Windsor la*t night to Rifleman George Halliday, of the Karori Rifle Club, the champion shot of the year, one of the best speeches was that of the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, who in a brief but pithy address traversed the Imperial situation of to-day. Tho early pioneers, he said, loved their Homeland and transmitted this affection to their descendants, who had proved their loyalty by going out to tight for Britain in South Africa, and later by presenting a Dreadnought to the Motherland in her time of need. The crimson streak of kinship was real. The Motherland had never asked the colonies for favours. Practically singlehanded she bore the burden of their defence by sea, and since the spread of the Imperial idea in preferential trade the burden had becomo heavier. In other countries thero had been an immense growth in trade and industry, and competition for markets was more strenuous than ever. Every war of recent times had been a trade war, and a preferential tariff would almost surely have the effect of forcing on the nations of the Continent a war for the maintenance of thoir markets in the British Empire. If the people of New Zealand knew that war was coming, if their patriotism was not mere talk, would it not bo criminal if they did not come to the rescue of tho Motherland? (Hear, henr, and applause.) There was the Old Country with her millions of poor people bearing a load of taxation amounting to no lees than 17s per head for national defenco alone ; and here was a young and active race paying at that time something equivalent to about Is per head. To-day the people of New Zealand were contributing something like 4s a head for Imperial defence and, if occasion arose again, they would do exactly as they had done before, and give further help. (Hear, hear and applause.) They all agreed that so far as the outlying portions of the Empire were concerned, tho navy was the first line of defence. Possibly there was another line equally 6trong, and that was the Dominion's national debts. (Laughter.) So long as they owed the Motherland so murh money, she would take mighty good care to protect New Zealand. (Renewed laughter). The duty of New Zealand was practically admitted by everybody, continued Mr. Millar. The gift of tho Dreadnought had a greater effect than was probably realised at tho present day. Its influent* would continue. Tt had come an a surpriso to European Powers, who were now beginning to realise the unity of tho Empire. So far as the navy was coucerned, the people.-, of the Empire might rest content that Britain's command of the seaa would be maintained. If it were not so, it would not bo for want of money. They were determined to uphold the twoPower standard. (Applause). Mr. Millar then turned to questions of internal defence, declaring that Lord Kitchener's report would receive the most earnest consideration of the Government. Already a scheme for compulsory military training had boen adopted and had been well received. Tho training would benefit the youth of the country as well a3 tho country itself. They would learn not only military discipline^ and the use of the rille, but would get a sound physical development at the same time. (Hear, hear). In a very few years the majority of the adult population of the country would be trained in the use of the rifle, which was the most important thing for a citizen army, the true bulwark of the land. (.Applause,) "We should put ourselves in this position," concluded Mr. Millar, "that if trouble arose and came to war, we should be able to say to the Old Country, Send your soldiers where you, need them. We call defend ourselves against attack, no matter who comes along — (applause) — and if need be, we can send our men for service beyond the seas as before." (Prolonged applause).