AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13462, 29 June 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

THE FEDERAL PREMIER'S VIEWS.

United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. (Received June 29, 9.47 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 29. Mr Deakin was welcomed by the Australian Natives' Association. Speaking on the naval question, he remarked:. "Heaven help the Empire, or any part of it, if it breaks away f^om the Imperial navy." No proposal had ever crossed his mind, and none would. ever Emanate from the present Commonwealth Government, which would imply any break away from the Imperial navy. It had been his privilege to consult with: political and other heads of that navy face to face, and he had returned, fortified by their advice and judgment, <to lay before his colleagues proposals that they had not yet been told of, ] which met with the entire approbation of those professional advisers. We had grown to what we were because we had rested under the shelter of the British nag, but a high-spirited people could not be content to sit still under the shelter of any flag without helping in its defence. We or our chDdren might ■have to meet <ao ordinary foes, and it might mean peril to all we hold most dear. If the warning came home to any people it came home to us ; therefore it become us, surely^ to recollect that the time was now our own to take advantage of 4he opportunity of making necessary provision which should be our net supplement to the strength of Empire in these seas as far as it was'proportionately incumbent upon us,' and not be content to see our work done for us which we should do. Until this duty was discharged we were only tenants on this ' Continent'; we could not retain it, and we could not deserve it.