DEFENCE OF PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1913, Page 7

DEFENCE OF PACIFIC

COMMONWEALTH'S POSITION STATEMENT BY SENATOR PEARCE (AGREEMENT OF DOMINIONS NECESSARY, By Teleirepb,— Pm« AMOctotton.— CopyrtiiiA (Received January 22. 6.20 a,m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Minister for Defence (Senator P/s&rce) in a statement) regarding the Commonwealth's suggestion, for a sub« sidfary conierence on defence, Bays:--"Three different schemes were drawn up for the 1909 conference, and the Australian agreement alone was carried out. If co-operation is to be ensured it will therefore be necessary for Canada and New Zealand to either carry oub their schemes or propose a substitute. The Commonwealth considers it would be ad» vantageous if New Zealand and Canada can come to an agreement for the defence of the Pacific. Australia had been invited to Bend a Minister to attend the Defence Committee. We suggested a subsidiary conference, to be held either in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand or Vancouver. The Imperial Government replied that that was impossible at present. The question would be allowed to be revived later in the year. .1 think it unnecessary at present to have an Australian Minister on the Defence Committee. Our policy is known to be ap« proved by the Admiralty, and can fee adjusted to meet any development of the Canadian and New Zealand policies. Great Britain can build the ship!' required, but can she find the officers and men ? The Australian policy differs from those of the other Dominions inasmuch as it provides for the training of officers and men to man our ships." A CONFIDENT PREDICTION. EXPANSION oFaUSTRALIAN SCHEME. ' NEW ZEALAND~TO COME IN» SYDNEY, 21st January. The Sun's Melbourne correspondent states that he has received information, semiofficial and otherwise enabling him confidently to predict that before the end of the year New Zealand will have received Great Britain's benediction upon a new and important departure in South Pacific defence. > The Commonwealth Government ■ rei cently communicated its views to the Imperial Government, and Mr, Allen, New Zealand Minister for Defence, that the Australian navy should be expanded into an Australasian navy, and that the naval stations in the Pacific should be changed, cutting New Zealand out of the China. Station, and adding it to the Australian, and also that Canada should provide a Pacific fleet unit for co-operation in tim& of war. No doubt, the correspondent states, the Admiralty will recommend the «msolida« tion of the local fleet, and New Zealand will accept the advice. The only quesiion is whether the advice will be given immediately or delayed until a defence sub-conference is held in London or in Canada. The prevalent idea is that the New Zealand section of the Australasian navy will consist of two third-claee cruisers of the Sydney type, three- destroyer* of the. Parramatta type, and two ttibm&rmes, and will cost £1,250,000. The question of administration, the; Sun states, has not been discussed, though it is agreed thai a New Zealand naval board will be a necessity. MR. MASSEY INTERVIEWED. DECLINES TO OFFICIALLY, CONFIRM OR DENY, AUCKLAND, Thfe Day. The Premier (Mr. Massey), interview* ed with reference to the Melbourne cable on New Zealand's defence policy, said he could gay nothing on the sub* ject. He declined to officially, ©onflrmw or deny the statement* made. '