DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 7

DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC

MISSION IN NEW ZEALAND CQ-OPERATION APPRECIATED. CLOSE TOUCH NOW IMPERATIVE. OPINION OF SIR GEORGE PEARCE. By Telegraph—Press Association, Auckland, Last Night. “Altogether I think I can sum up by saying I regard my mission to New Zealand as having been pleasant, instructive and possibly successful,’’ said Sir George Pearce, Minister of External Affairs and Territories in the Australian Federal Government, who conferred last week at Wellington with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence on questions of Empire defence. Associated with them in the discussions was Sir Maurice Hankey, - secretary of the Imperial Committee of Defence. Sir George left Auckland for Sydney bv the Monowai to-day, accompanied py Lady Pearce and by Mr. A. E. Leighton Commonwealth Controller-General of Munitions, and Mr. F. Shedden, secretary of the Commonwealth Defence Commitam quite sure the discussions will be most helpful to both Governments, said Sir George, "and I appreciate the friendly co-operative spirit in which we were met. I feel sure this meeting will lead to closer co-operation between New Zealand and Australia in the future. _ The increasing importance of the Pacific in international affairs,. Sir added, made it more necessary that there should be complete and constant touch between Australia and New Zealand and other British possessions of the Pacific.