FEDERAL POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13867, 1 April 1909, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS.

- THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. QUESTIONS OF DEFENCE. Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright .BRISBANE, March 31. In continuing his speech at Gympie, Mr Fisher, the Federal Prime' Minister, declared that the Dreadnought scheme was not a policy: at all. The Government-could: not .have justified itself if it had yielded to popular clamour, because he believed, it'was on wrong lines. The compulsory training nehenie proposes that cadets shall 'commence at 10 years of age, and go on till they are 21. The scheme, will entail an initial outlay of £580,000. The cost for the first year will be £1,200,000, and reach a maximum of £1,407,000 ire the.sixth year. The naval scheme proposes, in addition, three destroyers and sixteen of the river class of destroyers. Mr Fisher foreshadowed a. Commonwealth note issue and the minting of silver coinage, which-together, would produce a revenue of £190,000, also an amendment of the Constitution in regard to the new protection. The Federal Government would not go jii the money market on any condition whatever, until a settlement was reached over the State debts' question. He considered the appointment of a High Commissioner a necessity.' Mr Fisher said he estimated that naval construction would cost £650,000 the first year, £BBO,OOO the. 'second year, £734,000 the third year, and maintenance £168,000 the, first year, and £230,000 'the next year. ' ' : SYDNEY PRESS CRITICISM. SY;DNEY, March 31. . The "Sydney Morning Herald" declares that Mr Fisher is entirely astray on the naval defence question. He merely commits Australia to enormous expense in construction and maintenance, without even gaining local immunity. At the same time he fails most shamefully to play the part in the Empire's defence which events so loudly!' call us to undertake. He strongly misreads the signs of the times if lie thinks now is an appropriate 1 time to appeal to purely local patriotism. His plain duty was to.stand by the Empire, and he must;be left under no illusion that he is helping the Empire with a destroyer fleet. The "Daily Telegraph" points out that destroyers are useless unless attached to a.deep-sea. squadron. Australia's clear interest and manifest duty is to strengthen the. fleet, which, while it holds the seas, makes invasion impossible. Any defence scheme ignoring that is a fraudulent delusion, and just there, where there is an'incurably'weak point, Mr Fisher's policy protrudes.