NAVAL DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15768, 17 November 1914, Page 8

NAVAL DEFENCE.

"MUST PROTECT OURSELVES." VIEWS OF MR. HARRIS, M.P. "The people of New Zealand," declared Mr. A. "Harris, M.P., at Devonport last night, "should thank God for the # existence of the Australian fleet in. the Pacific at the present time. (Cheers.) I don t think the admirable services rendered are fully realised by the people of New Zealand. Without those ships, we could not have sent troops to Samoa, and it is quite probable that some New Zealand ports would have been bombarded. It is hard to say what might have happened but for this protection, which was afforded at the expense of the Australian people. That we should accept protection at the expense of the Australians is not a fair position for us. Something has to be done. (Hear, hear.) The sinking of the Emden by the Sydney brings the matter home to us. (Loud cheers.) _ The British Government failed to keep the agreement to send us British cruisers, and gave us warships that are absolutely useless. Whether we are to have a local, an Australasian navy, or a Canadian, South African, Australian and New Zealand navy, something definite must assuredly be done. We must have ships to protect our coastline and our trade routes."

UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEERS.

RECRUITING SCHEME APPROVED.

A recruiting list is to be opened at the Auckland University College, with a view to the establishment of a university reinforcement corps

A letter was received at yesterday's meeting of the_ College Council from Lieutenant J. G. McCallum, of Canterbury, stating that a movement was afoot among the university students of the Dominion to send, if it could be arranged, a reinforcement of those now in the field representative of the universities as a whole. A considerable number of students were with the main force, but many did not go on account of the examinations. The universities of Great Britain and elsewhere had made a great response to the call for men. Such men were of great value to the conntry from a military point of view, some being engineering, mining", and medical students, and many spoke one or more foreign languages. It was proposed to recruit a's many as possible in the four centres, the men to be brought together for training purposes, none to be called on until the examinations were over. The Defence authorities had sanctioned the scheme. The writer suggested that the council extend the same privileges wherever necessary as had been granted to those already on service. Mr. G. J. Garland moved that the request be granted, and the registrar be given power to open a list in the college. The Professorial Board had no objection The proposal was adopted. TROOPS IN SAMOA. HEALTH GENERALLY GOOD. [BY TELEGRAPH. ASSOCIATION.] Wellington*. Monday

The Governor has received the following telegram from the Administrator at Samoa : —" The health of the troops is good. " The sick list is as follows :—Artillery : Corporal Kirker, dysentery; Forbes, demjue. Railway Engineers : Corporals Belt and Hebditeh. and Private Quinii, dengue; Lawrence, synovitis; Sergeant Matheson, ulcer. Auckland Regiment: Corporals Mclntyre and Ohlson, and Private Stewart, dengue ; Hay. dysentery ; Owen, rheumatism. Engineers : Baldwin, dengue. Wellington Regiment: Captain Wilkinson, septic ear; Ascure, dengue."