LORD KITCHENER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2758, 12 March 1910, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER.

AUSTRALIAN REFERENCES

United Press Association —Copyright SYDNEY/March 11. The “Herald,” commenting on Lord Kitchener’s New Zea-laaid report, says: “It avrs a .poor argument that settled and settles the question of New Zealand’s joining the Australian Federation on the score of distance, because Perth is further from Sydney and Melbourne than the latter capitals are from Auckland and Wellington. Moreover, the seas unite and do not divide -people of the same race. Now Lord .Kitchener finds that Australia and New Zealand must be taken together in Avar. They must be associated, and in preparation of advice that which suits one is appropriate to tho other. It would be absurd to say that these must dr-aw New Zealand into the Common wealth. IVe do not- believe anything of the kind, -but not until each gets its baptism of fire Avill there he any needful pressure for union. Lord Kitchener’s programme Avail prepare the Avay. There will be combining in tlio near future for -mutual defence of the mighty Empire, -and this will be a- long step forward.”

MR. MASSEY’S OPINION

\ Per Press Association.! AUCKLAND, March 11

The Leader of tho Opposition 'Mr. Massey, M.P.,) yesterday stat'd that he had not had an opport l. iny of th--'<-« phly studying Lord Kachoner’s n e -a.ut..julations, but- lie io state his vioAVs in regard to the main principle of the proposal. “I supported the Defence Act of last session,” said Mr. Massey, “because I feel Ave ought to do a great deal more than Ave have been doing in the Avay of defence, and I arn anxious that we should, as far as possible, take advantage of tho advice and experience of the distinguished soldier aa-Jio has just visited this country. I think, liOAveA’er, it AA'ould be a serious mistake at- present to go beyond the expenditure contemplated by the Act of 1909, or to increase t-he age of military training. 1 notice that the Minister of Defence estimates the maximum cost of Lord Kitchener’s scheme at £470,000 per annum. To that wo should haA'-e to add £IOO,OOO as the annual subsidy to Die Imperial Navy, and interest and sinking fund in connection with the dreadnought at £150,000 per annum; say £750,000 in all. Can the .Dominion afford this at present? 1 think not. I consider A\ r e should go on Avit'h the Act. of last year, amend it Avhere it requires amending, and at the same time work on tho lines laid down bv Lord Kitchener, but subject to the defence expenditure being kept doAvn to as nearly half a million per annum os possible. I am quite certain that if Ave launch out int-o an extraA-agant scheme there Avill be a reaction and Ave shall lose the ground avc haA'e gained.” In regard to the proposal for increasing the ago for military training, Mr. Masscv said: “I am sure this Avould also be a mistake. Many people do not look faA-orably on compulsory' training up to 21, but if Ave increase the age to 26, as suggevsted, there vvill be a dislocation of certain industries, and consequently trouble, and 1 for one cannot agree to the proposal. The Minister for Defence says that, the new suggestions can be given effect to Avithout increasing the taxation, but do not let us forget Parliament- increased the taxation last year by approximately half a million a year, and on the understanding that-the incrc/fses in Customs Avere only to be temporary. Parliament and the people Avill expect that promise to be kept, and if adhered to there Avon Id be doubt about our ability to finance the iioav scheme.”

In regard to the suggestion that Australia and New Zealand should adopt homogenous military system, Mr. Massey said that this proposal was obviously a sound one. “The two countries,” he said, “should so arrange their defences as to be able to co-ope-rate in time of danger, as it is quite certain tliat in the event of trouble they would have to stand or fall together. The proposal that we should send our cadets to be instructed at the Australian Military College is manifestly also a good one. I agree with the Premier that this is not a party question. It is above party. Lord Kitchener’s advice to not allow personal considerations to stand in the way of efficiency must also, of course, be followed if we expect to build up a sound system of defence.” In conclusion Mr. Massey said: “The country as a whole is willing to do its duty from an Imperial point of view, but,the new proposals, and even tbo provisions in the now Defence Act, are largely experimental, and I think we are much more likely to do the right thing in the way of our duty to the Empire and our own country if vc avoid plunging and make haste slowly.” •