THE WESTERN PACIFIC.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14016, 22 September 1909, Page 2

THE WESTERN PACIFIC.

AUSTRALIA AND DEFENCE.

ILL LN THE FEDERAL HOUSE. By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. MELBOURNE, Sept. 21. Mr. Joseph Cook (Federal Minister ? « Dei*'"**) ■ > ntr °duoed the Defence »» eh Wfts re »d / » ft»t time. Tn© Opposition objected to taking the ecoad. leading. Tne closure ws7ap•liecl. The senond reading was pre-1 ceded with, several memuers of the >ppositiuu leaving the chamber. Air. Cook, explaining the bHI, t+id ' Ludtralia had grown to manhood and t was time they looked the question I defence fairly in the. face if they tad to keep up the ideal of a "white lubtraha." Ho questioned if the lountry ought to depend upon Britain o enforce the ideal, which did not att>eal much to the people of Britain, rhen regarding the forces guarding the Pacific, they were absolutely dependent >n the treaty with Japan tor the pretervation of the peace of the Pacific slands, and the preparation for the. future must, he said, keep the safety>r the Empire in view. O» Govern--ment accepted the view that a fuller Imperial partnership with an indisp_K sable condition of Empire defence. He explained that the new naval scheme provided for a cruiser of the Indefatigable type, three armoured cruisers of the Bristol class, six <te^ itroyees of the. unproved River class, and three submarines. The total 1 oast would be £$,760,000, and the ananal rost of upkeep ,£760,000. The Imperial Government for some time would pay a quarter of the annual cost of upkeep. Fhe duty of controlling the western Pacific would be undertaken by tlb Australian unit in conjunction with the New Zealand section of the China unit.' THE DEFENCE SCHEME. (Received Sept. 22, 9.85 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 23. The Defence Bill provides for eom--ml&ory military training from between the ages of 12 and 14 to 18 years, for senior cadets irom 18 to 20 years, a*d for Git-sens' forces and citiaens' naval forces. These are to be divided into militia aftd volunteers., Reserved jotttzens' military forces are to be divided into active and reserve section*. It it) proposed to limit the sppli4»tioit of the compulsory clauses to the more populated areas at first. Employers preventing employees from rendering personal service shall be liable to s penalty of £100.