THE DOMINION'S DEFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9162, Issue 9162, 11 March 1910, Page 5

THE DOMINION'S DEFENCE.

MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 10. Mr Massey, interviewed in regard to Lord Kitchener's report, said he thought it would be a serious mistake to go beyond the expenditure contemplated by the Defence Act or to increase the age for military training as proposed by Lord Kitchener. Sir Joseph Ward estimated the cost of Lord Kitchener's scheme at £470,000 per annum. To that had to be added £100,00 as subsidy to the Imperial Navy, and interest and sinking fund iu connection with the Dreadnought estimated at £150,000, say £750,000 in all. He did not. think the Dominion could afford that at present. As to the proposal to increase the age for military training, Mr Massey said: "I am sure this would also be a mistake. Many people do not look j favourably on compulsory training up ; to 21, but if we increase the age to 26, as suggested, there will be dislocation of certain industries and consequently trouble, and for one I cannot agree to the proposal." DOMINION AND COMMONWEALTH. THEIR COMMON INTERESTS. Received March 11, 9.45 a.m. SYDNEY, March 11. The estimated population of the Commonwealth on December 31 was —Males 2,305,637, females 2,068,501. The Herald, commenting on Lord Kitchener's New Zealand report, says it I was a poor argument to settle the question of New Zealand's joining Australian federation on the score of distance because Perth is further from Sydney and Melbourne than the latter capitals arc from Auckland and Wellington. Moreover the seas unite and do not divide people of the same race. Now Lord Kitchener finds that Australia and New Zealand , must bo taken together. In war they must be associated and in the preparation the advice which suits one is appropriate to the other. It would bo absurd to say that these preparations must draw New Zealand into Commonwealth. "Wo do not believe anything of the kind," says the paper, but not until each gets its baptism of firo will there bo any needful pressure for union. Lord Kitchener' 6 programme will propare the way. There will be combining in the near future for mutual defence and this will be a long step forward.