DEFENDING MAORILAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2115, 14 February 1908, Page 2

DEFENDING MAORILAND.

THE PREMIER'S VIEWS

EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY

AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. Sir Joseph Ward at Paeroa referred to defence matters. He said the people wanted to ensure for themselves a white race. They wanted to prevent a mixture, particularly with the Eastern races. Yet what were the facts? Within a few days’ sail of Now Zealand were millions of Chinese and Japanese. It was to the former we had to look. The Chinese were being educated in arts and sciences anil warfare, in the latter by men who wanted them in the future for their own aggrandisement. Suppose the time should come in future years when educated Chinese were able to shoulder firearms and take their position in the fields on equal terms with other nations Could we expect a handful of people in New Zealand to effectually defend our shores against them? This, lie said, was one of the dangers on the horizon, and there were evidences that it might come. Germany’s policy for a long time had been to build ships of war, to lie able to take part against Great Britain should the occasion arise. For this reason Britain refused to reduce her naval estimates. We should never have naval engagements on the Now Zealand coast. It would he the -Mediterranean, perhaps, or in East India. If Germany should win it. would mean not only that Great Britain, hut every portion of the Brtitsh Empire would be beaten. Pulses that were moving in .these young countries ought not to neglect small matters. The increased payment under the naval agreement was not being made on sentimental grounds. They were bound to ensure the people against the possibility of any power taking away their personal property. The British Navy was our first line of defence, but not our last defence. If it were swept away ryvery mail in the Dominion, in the event of the British flag being beaten, would fight on to preserve his country.