BRITAIN'S PERIL AND DEFENCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 105, 1 May 1909, Page 6

BRITAIN'S PERIL AND DEFENCE.

WHBBB THEBLOW^L HAVJS

BRITAIN'S MWERTHE WORLD'S

"Every additional Dreadnought) S'such a vast Empire, eh© wished to pSSs it'll peace. That wasjatamd, and it was also natural that otftei Satio is .should wish to follow ra er methods and a— temtoij £« Britain acquired some of hers. But theX Sets proved that a powerful BrXin'"meant peace, and a Bntain that could be crushed and defeated m AnotS' point to be noted was tt»t the world was free to enter the-Em-l7he*^srj;^t ha?ffn Wer of absorbing and assimilating Sew material. Only a tew years ago every Boer in South Africa, was fighting to the death agarnst Britain. Ihev were conquered, but, contrary to a precedent, were given liberty and all the rights of citizens. And now — when there was a hint of danger to Britain—the generals who had a tew years ago fought against, her united in sending a message flashing over the wires that every Boer in fcouth Africa would >stand as one man lor tho Empire. (Cheers). , Mr Reid was very sarcastic over the proposals to help the Empire by protecting our coasts with a tew tonpedodestroyers. He thought the idea of igraduallv establishing an Australian Navy a laudable one, but let them not talk' nonsense about it having anythin^ to do with the defence of the Empire. Ton thousand torpedo boats aioSnd the coast-line would not keep an enemy from landing if it wished to do so if Britain lost the mastery ■of the sea. And they were told .these boats would protect Australian commerce. Some people seemed to think that Australian commerce was confined to the waters between Sydney and Watson's-Bay--.. Some, of wider views, perhaps, believed it rruglit include ftome- trips from Molboiwne to Sydney] and on to-Brisbane.. why, eommoii, sepbe ought to tell them that the ■ evfcr-iiiioreasing trade of Australia was carried across every one of the world's oceans, to every port to wiuch a ship ooitld sail. It was protected, «nd must be • protected by the great BritiS Navy, on v,thich £300,000,000 sterling had : been spent an , recent VM «, Jt vas true Australia paid the magnificat sum of £200,000 towards the upkeep of this Navy, which, by the wav, spout nearly three times as much on Australia every, year. But some pooplfl 'were beginning to think we ought to do a little more. Apart" from the uselessness or the proposal to protect our oVn shores was tho paltry and mean aspect ot the

thing. It was as though a wealthy squatter, with an immense sheep run, had given one of Ms sons a very valuable selection in one part of it. Then, when the rabbit pest threatened them, the son said: "Don't be afraid, father; I'll irun a rabbit-proof fence .round my selection to help you." (Laughter.) Not a Bit more 5 absurd or unfilial thaai some opinions that one ihea.rd nowadays about the Dreadnought proposals. One wiriter on the subject had said he had no objection whatever to giving a Dreadnought if it were kept in Australian waters. Did it not occur to that gentleman, that this is just where Germany, if she. went to war, would like it to be._ If the Dreadnoughts of the Empire, could be scattered all about it, while those of the enemy were concentrated, it would make the downfall of Britain's naval power practically certain. The plac9 where Dreadnoughts could protect the Empire was near the Empire's heart, for it was there the decisive blow would be -struck.

The question, after all, added MiReid, rested with the people. It waa they who were the true rulers of the land. Australians, had shown tin the past that they could act in a way worthy of the races from which they sprang. When the trouble' occurred in South Africa, young -Australia a-allied to the flag that meant so much to every Briton. And now, when the danger ,was ten times greater, the young men—and young women—of Australia might be trusted to see to it that the Mother Country was helped when help, was needed, and with the right kind o* help. At the conclusion of the speech, the assemblage rose and sang the "National Anthem."