IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13976, 8 May 1913, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

PjROMOTINC AVIATION

Press Association. Telegraph Copyright LONDON, May 7. The Unionist members of the House of Commons have appointed a committee to promote aviation and to 'secure a debate on the subject in the Commons at an earlv date.

THE NAVAL PROBLEM. LONDON, May 7. Tho Daily Telegraph states that the highest Imperial interests are being endangered, owing to tho increasing absorption of British Ministers in internal politics. Tho oversea States are concentrating theii* attention on defence, and their public men are necessarily unfamiliar with technical questions resulting in individual sections of the Empire blindly searching for foundations whereon to base a policy consistent with their own needs and permanent co-operation to safeguard tho Empire. Even Now Zealand was intent on developing a local policy, and was reported to he anxious to retain her gift battleship in the Pacific. Every discussion of naval problems roveals tho absence of unity between tho Admiralty and the overseas Dominions. The only remedy was a conference. Instead of dealing with Mr Borden alone, last summer, there should have been an Empire conclave. Tho Telegraph urges an immediate Imperial Conference.

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

LONDON, May 7

General Hutton, in a speech at the Colonial Institute, said he once personally advocated a voluntary system, but no Government was strong enough to carry it out. Therefore he favoured compulsory training in England.