NEW ZEALAND CRUISERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14144, 20 August 1909, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND CRUISERS.

COASTAL DEFENCE SCHEME.

IN LIEU OF DREADNOUGHT.

A NEW ARRANGEMENT.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— (Received August 20, 12.5 a.m.)

London, August 19. An apparently inspired statement in connection with the Defencc Conference has been published to the efj fect that, under an arrangement en- ! tered into between Sir Joseph Ward, I Prime Minister of New Zealand, and the Admiralty, the contribution offered by the Dominion of New Zealand to the British navy is not to bo in the form of a Dreadnought or Dreadnoughts, as at first proposed, but of cruisers. The cruisers to bo provided will, says the published statement, form part of the Pacific squadron, and be employed in New Zealand waters for local defence.

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

A QUESTION FOR PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRArH. TOESS ASSOCIATION'.]

Dunkdik, Thursday.

The Hon J. A. Millar,' Minister for Railways, speaking at a social given to him to-night, avoided controversial matters, his ■ most important statement having reference to Sir Joseph Ward's home-coming after the conference with British naval and military authorities. Ho said that no doubt some definite scheme for the defence of the Empire would be dealt with during the coming session. Those who watched European affairs knew that the struggle of the future would not be a struggle for territory, but a struggle to retain trade, and unless Britain was prepared to defend her trade she was going to lose it. Not knowing Sir Joseph Ward's proposals, he could not make a definite statement, but no doubt there would be a long debate in Parliament upon the question of defence, and without doubt the question of compulsory training would occupy Parliament, and if the country had no desire for a standing army, the people must admit that it was the duty of every adult male to know something about how to handle a gun.