PREPARATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 August 1910, Page 5

PREPARATION.

IN THE EVENT OF WAR. AUSTRALIA'S "INVITED INVASION'." * A FIGHTING FUR CI-: UF 127.000. [Press Association—Copyright. j ('Received 5.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr G. F. Pearee. .Minister for defence, said that the present defence system, was inadequate and unfair. It did not gLve effective defence. The Bill dlosely followed Lord Kitchen•er;s recornmeudations. New Zealand had adopted Lord Kitchen.rv 's ■scheme in toto. Th-e Bill 'would give six years' training and association, and they would get all the benefits of csprit-de-eorps when 'the men were mo-st effective as fighting unit:. > Tike .proclamation far issue in September, with i view of introducing the system la January next, provided for 100,000 cadets, 'the first iraft of \rliom would pass into tire -citizen force in July, 1912. The ■system for the training aollege would fb.p based on competitive examinations. Entrants would be selected on a per ea.pfta basis. It was anticipated that New Zealand would co-operate, .and that some ;New Zealand: boys would attend. It "was expected that 'the scheme would Tbe in fall operation by 1919 or 19-JQ. when the total fighting force would (number 127,000. Tl.-.-ir ideal was not a,- standing army, but adequate id'efenee, as ther e was in Australia everything to tempt invasion. It Va- a ibi,g burden to carry,, and sit might be said that the Governfine ct was a-sking more tlian was ne'ceessary; but if they erred on the ■side of •safety, thev erred on the Tight sid'e. d&bate was adjourned. SCHEME TO COST £2.000.000. MEDBOURNE, Thursday. In the Senate .Mr Pearee moved the second reading o£ the Defence Bill. His speech largely covered' the details already cabled. He estimated the ultimate cost at £2,000,000 against Lord Kitchener' estimate of .■Ei.soq.ooo.