THE EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 183, 20 December 1912, Page 5

THE EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

DISCUSSION IN THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Ottawa, December 18. The Liberal attitude towards the Empire is well expressed by Mr. Germaine's objection to , the centralisation of authority in London. Canada, he says, ought to work out her own destiny within the Empire, but along her own lines. The Conservatives replied that Canada was now at the parting of the ways. She must either draw closer to the Empire or drift outside. The debate is likely to continue till the end of January. A MISSED OPPORTUNITY. I Received 19, 9.30 p.m. : Ottawa, December 19. Mr. Foster, in the navy debate, said that at the Imperial Conference in 1909, when the building of four fleets for the Pacific was suggested, each to be headed by one great fighting machine, Australia and New Zealand agreed, but Canada withheld her consent. Then the opportunity was lost of doing the most effective thing for securing British naval supremacy for years to come. Now Canada was making an effort to redeem the past. He ridiculed the Liberals' contention that because Mr. Borden proposed to contribute money for building Dreadnoughts instead, of building Canada's own fleet and manning her own ships, Canadians were cowardly. He questioned if the Australians and New Zealanders were cowardly, because they had contributed to the Empire for twelve years.