IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15260, 26 March 1913, Page 4

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

EW ZEALAND'S PATRIOTISM.

SPEECH BY THE HON. J. ALLEN. JFKOM OtJB OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, February 14. Sir Joseph Warp was the guest of honour at a Navy League luncheon held yesterday at Prince's, Piccadilly. Mr. R. A. Yerburgh, M.P. (president of the league) presided. In proposing the toast of " Our Quest," the president referred to the striking and well-timed gift to the British Navy made by New Zealand four years ago. The question which people had been asking was whether the Dominions would place themselves on the side of tho Mother Country on the sea as they had done on land. The answer lrom New Zealand was prompt, firm, and magnificent in its fenerosity. Australia, Canada, and tho ederatcd Malay States luid ranged themselves by New Zealand's side, and European nations now knew that if they decided to confront this country they would have to meet, all the Dominions as well. For this happy result there was no name which stood 'higher than that of Sir Joseph Ward.

Sir Joseph "Ward, in responding, said that the people of New Zealand were animated by the fervent hope that war would never come. In New Zealand the important question of defence was not put on a party plane— (cheers)—-and they were anxious to . see it taken out of parochial politics. He thought the time would arrive in the history or tho Empire when that would be done, and a practical alteration made in the Constitution which would enable these great and overriding matters, which -were essential to the preservation of the Empire, to be decided by the authoritive voice of its different

peoples. Sir Gcorgo Armstrongs in proposing the toast of "Imperial Defence," said that the Old Country was sometimes regarded as an old hen with a certain number of chickens, but, as might be seen by the ship setting forth that day, the chickens were really strong ducklings, who would give a very bad time indeed to anyone who tried to interfere with the old hen. (Cheers.)

The Hon. James Allen, in responding, said that he was one of the ducklings, and he believed tho hen was able to look after them. At all events, New Zealand was prepared to do her share. Politics did not enter into considerations'on the question of national defence. Imperial defence came home closer to the Dominions than it did at Home, and he thought that some of our people imagined there, was no danger, but those who lived in the further seas and knew what was going on sometimes began to wonder if we were quite awake. The battleship New Zealand was visible evidence of what New.Zealand was prepared, to do, and that was not all, for he ventured to say that the Dominion was more patriotic, from the point of view of Empire, than even the Motherland. (Cheers.) In the far distant future , Now Zealand would show that she, was prepared to make even more permanent and greater sacrifices than she had ever made. It was not enough that their sacrifice should be spasmodic. It must be permanent, year by year, and he believed that New Zealand was ready to make the sacrifice when she knew exactly on what lines it was best to make it. He believed tho Mother Country was waking np to its grave responsibility with regard to Empire defence, and holding out the right hand of fellowship across the seas. (Cheers.)