AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 22 September 1909, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

THE FEDERAL DEFENCE SCHEME. (Phess Association.— Copy right.) MELBOURNE, Tuesday. In the Federal House of Representatives Mr Cook introduced the Defence Bill, which was read a first time. The Opposition objected to taking tho second reading. Tho closure was applied, and the second reading proceeded with, several members of the Opposition leaving the Chamber. Mr Cook, in explaining, the Bill, said Australia had grown to manhood, and it was time they looked into the question of defence fairly in the face. They had to keep up the ideal of a white Australia ; but he questioned if the country ought to depend on Britain to enforce the ideal, which did not appeal much to the people of Britain then. Regarding the forces guarding the Pacific they were absolutely depending on the treaty with Japan for the preservation of the peace of the Pacific. Plans and preparations for the future must keep the safety of the Empire in view. The Government accepted the view that a fuller Imperial partnership was an indispensable condition to Empire defence. , Hfe. explained that the new naval scheme provided 'for a cruiser of the Indefatigable type, three armoured cruisers of the Bristol class, six de^ stroyers of an improved river class, and three submarines. The total cost would be £3,750,000, and the annual cost ot upkeep £750,000. The Imperial Go vernment for some time would pay a quarter of the annual cost of upkeep. Tho control of the Western Pacificwould be undertaken by the Australian unit, in conjunction witih the New Zealand section of the China unit. Both Houses of the State Parliament adjourned out of respect to Sir Thomas Bent's memory.