IN THE PACIFIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 December 1924, Page 5

IN THE PACIFIC

DOMINION AND COMMONWEALTH TO LEAD NEW WORLD. THE PEOBLEM OE DEFENCE. BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT, (Received Dec. 9, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, De ; c 8. Mr Amery was the guest of the Australia and New Zealand, Luncheon Club. He said that Australia and New Zealand in new movements to-day occupied a geographical position comparable to the British Isles 300 years ago. It was impossible to say to-day whether Australia and New Zealand would be able to profit from their position and the marvellous opportunity they had to defend themselves effectively against the possible perils of that position. Their weakness was lack of numbers owing to a complete absence of a true co-operative policy with the Homeland for the reciprocal use of each other’s resources; but we were learning wisdom now. Mr Amery said he hoped it would now be possible to carry out the Empire settlement policy to an even greater extent than was provided by the Empire Settlement Act. He* emphasised that it was useless to assist people to cross the ocean unless provision were made to purchase their produce. He hoped that, despite the slight lapse of a few months ago, there would be an ever increasing pressure to carry out the policy of Imperial preference in every direction. Referring to the necessity for keeping the ocean routes open'in the interests of Empire defence, he said that there were three gateways of vital importance Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, and the Straits of Singapore. We were bound to safeguard effectively and firmly our rights in Egypt, particularly, those having a bearing on Imperial communications. This was an internal matter concerning the British Empire, and not concerning anyone else. Singapore was another gateway which might be valueless unless the means were provided to re-equip our ships. That also was purely an internal matter for ourselves which we were not merely entitled to look after, but bound to make sure of. He concluded: “In the vast developments pending in the Pacific Australia. .and New Zelaand. must give a lead to the new world as Britain has given the lead to the old world.”