FOR HEARTH AND HOME.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4397, 28 November 1912, Page 5

FOR HEARTH AND HOME.

NEW ZEALAND’S DETRACTORS. EXPOSED IN ENGLAND. BY PAHIATUA TERRITORIALS. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. * Copyright. London, Last Night. Tlie President of the Pahiatua Honorary Territorials Association, Mr W. Tosswill, replying to Radical newspaper criticisms regarding compulsory military training in New Zealand, concludes: “You may champion the Peace Society’s cause and hinder universal training in the Homeland, but we ask you to see that your illustrations regarding New Zealand’s compulsory training are truthful and substantiated.”

[The letter referred to was signed by the President (Mr W. Tosswill) and the Secretary (Mr J. A. Walsh) of the Pahiatua Honorary Territorials Association, and was sent to the Manchester Guardian and Daily News, refuting the statements made by the anti-militarists concerning compulsory military training in New Zealand. Copies were also forwarded to the London Daily Mail, the United Service Magazine, and the Liverpool Daily Post. We shall give the full text of the letter in to-morrow’s issue.]

“ACTING SIDE RY SIDE.”

Sydney, Last Night. Senator Pearce, Commonwealth Defence Minister, interviewed, said: “I think public opinion in New Zealand on the matter of Australasian defence is swinging round in our direction. Though no official proposals have been made for co-operation in defence there has been informal correspondence between the Premiers as a result of the visit of Major-General Godley, who conferred with Major-GenerarGordon, chief of the Commonwealth General Staff, regarding plans for mutual support in time of war.” Senator Peareo added: “That is all that can bo said at present, but I think the time is not far distant when Australia and New Zealand will be found acting side by sido in defence. "What has been done hitherto relates chiefly to the military side. It is impossible to footer a national patriotic spirit on the subsidy basis. We set* already in the receptions accorded the crews of our torpedo destroyers how tho national spirit is growing in the Commonwealth. and can form an idea of tho strong national feeling which will he evoked when the Australian fleet comes into being. It is this direction, I think, that public opinion in New Zealand is now tending.” The Sydney Morning Herald says tilt* proposal for a co-operative system of defence for Australia and New Zealand presents few difficulties, and nothing insuperable. laird Kitchener’s scheme already applies to either. Both possess similar organisation and principle of service. It involves no sacrifice of any existing institution to combine the land forces and make an Australasian army. Regarding tho naval aspect, the question is slightly more complicated. This, however, should prove no obstacle. We do not presume to pose as an interpreter of the motives of New Zealand in naval policy, but it must strike the outsider that the policy may have been dictated. by eonsulertaions which would have loss weight under an Australasian co-operative scheme of defence. It would be a grievous and unnecessary burden lor New Zealand alone to equip a fleet of any practical utility, and were she given tho opportunity of adding her resources to the Commonwealth's sile might take a different view. Even if a great obstacle existed, the advantages accruing are so enormous as to make it worth surmounting. Australia and New Zealand are white lands under the shadow of Asia and Africa. Their future will bo the same and their enemies the same. Whether the lxilt comes from East or West, it will not discriminate between the two. In our eyes, perhaps the distance separating us is great; in those of the world, however, we bulk together in politics. Each of us may have to “dree her own weird,” but in defenco our problems are identical, and should the foreshadowed development come about it will mark the greatest step towards the security of Australasia yet seen. THE NAVAL QUESTION. Auckland, Lust Night. In a s[KM>ch at the Harbour Hoard luncheon to-day, Admiral King-Hall said he had been asked, is Auckland to bo a naval base? There could, he said, he no doubt that it must bo a secondary base iu the future, whatever tho future naval jiolicy of the Dominion might be. It was absolutely imixwsiblo for the Commonwealth or the Dominion to do anything hut support tho Old Country, and this they would always do, for they knew the Empire stood for freedom, liberty and justice, and the bonds binding them irrevocably to each other, though very light, were as strong as the finest tempered steel. He believed that in time—he was only giving his personal opinion—-they should have a Pacific Fleet comprising divisions from the Dominions whose shores were washed by that ocean, and he saw no reason why a beginning should not lie made by the Dominion joining forces and co-operating with the Commonwealth in forming a Royal Australasian Navy. There were no insuperable difficulties in the way that could not he overcome by very little tact and .statesmanship. lie addl'd that h<* thought the question of building a Dreadnought dock big enough to take tho largest men-of-wur would soon have to he considered by tho Auckland Harlxnir Board. The Premier, the Hon. YV. F. Massey, replying to the toast of Parliament, reviewed the projXKsals regarding New Zealand as it at present which includes the establishment in New Zealand waters, as a unit of the China squadron, of two cruisers, three destroyers, and two submarines. “In my opinion,” said Mr Massey, “the naval position is so important that it must lie look LI into by the people and Parliament of this country. Without disclosing Cabinet secrets, 1 will say that the Government oj 'Jew Zealand is now oommtlniontirig with the Imperial Government or the subject. Whatever hnpjH*n.s, 1 am convinced that the jasiple and Government of New Zealand will do I heir duty to the Empire. (Loud and continued applause).