CO885-(6-7) — Page 467

473

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

T┬TT TTcO. 885

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

64

NAVAL DEPINCE have here the amount stated in a memorandum of 1886. The cost per head of the population for the Imperial navy to the British taxpayers is there estimated at 7s. 6d. a year.

LAND DEPENCE..

The Secretary of State.] It has enormously increased since then; that was before these great additions to the navy.

Mr. Seddon.] Yes.

The Secretary of State.] Well, I do not think we can carry that any further.

Captain Beaumont.] I should like to say, sir, that so far as I know there has been no desire to alter the agreement.

Sir George Turner.] If that is the view of the Admiralty————

Sir Gordon Sprigg.] I think it should be understood, Mr. Chamberlain, that the proposals I make in regard to Cape Colony are not affected at all by anything that has taken place here to-day.

Captain Beaumont withdrew.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] £126,000 to the navy would be a drop of water in the bucket.

LAND DEFENCE.

The Secretary of State.] There are certain questions in regard to military defence, and Captain Nathan is here to make some statement on behalf of the Colonial Defence Committee as to the course they have taken. Would do so, Captain Nathan, just stating what they are?

you

Captain Nathan.] One of the suggestions which was made some time ago was with regard to an interchange of military units between the Colonies and the mother country. The suggestion was made originally in Canada by General Herbert, when commanding the Militia there, and it is one which the Colonial Defence Committee view with great favour, and consider to be a practical step towards Imperial unity, and one not involving any expenditure, or only an expenditure which would be trifling. A practical method of carrying it out would be, in the first instance, for the permanent force of Canada, which is a small one, probably at present about 800 men, to furnish a battery, to be stationed at, say, Aldershot, and form part of the Imperial army. At the same time, its place might be taken in Canada by a battery of the Imperial army, which would do the work which is at present done by a battery of the Dominion permanent forces— that is to say, assist to train the Militia. A battery is mentioned, being a small unit which Canada might well provide at present. Of course, the principle admits of general extension, not only in the Dominion, but also in time, possibly, to Australia and the Cape. That is one point.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] I think Canada would be prepared to accept that under an Act of Parliament.

Captain Nathan.] If Canada would be prepared to do that———

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] I think so; it is a matter which has been put before myself and the Minister of Militia, and we were prepared to recommend it. Unfortunately Mr. Borden has met with a very severe accident, and he has not been to his office for some time; I have reason to believe, although I cannot give a positive assurance, that Canada will be prepared to act upon that suggestion for an exchange of units.

Captain Nathan.] I might mention that a somewhat similar thing to what is now proposed has been done on a small scale in Canada already by a company of the Imperial Regiment at Halifax being temporarily trans- ferred to Fredericton, and a company of the local regiment of Fredericton going to Halifax, and this, I believe, has been a great success.

65

The Secretary of State.] Perhaps, dealing with the first point, we could prefer the proposal, and send it officially to the Government of Canada, as the most convenient way.

Captain Nathan.] The most convenient way, I think, would be that Canada should make the proposal.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] Oh, very well.

Mr. Reid.] How many men, now, would there be in a battery; about 140? I may say, on behalf of New South Wales, we have a pretty consider- able force, about 400 or 500 men, that are most favourable to the proposal, and I will consult our Government when I go back; I think we should all be very favourable to that.

Sir H. M. Nelson.] The only expense would be the expense of the passages of the men?

Captain Nathan.] The only expense would be the expense of the passages of the men.

Sir H. M. Nelson.] Personally, I should be very favourable to it.

The Secretary of State.] They probably would be glad to volunteer.

Mr. Kingston.] I think our engagement is for three years ?

Sir George Turner.] Our engagement is five years; we might provide for that in our general Bill.

Mr. Seddon.] Ours is three years. I think we should be all in favour of an interchange. We have not so many men in our New Zealand permanent forces, but we could send a detachment of the permanent artillery; we could send them here for training and the home Government could send us an equal number; there would only be the cost of transport.

Sir George Turner.] What time would it be for 12 months? Captain Nathan.] I think longer than 12 months; they would not get the full advantage in less than two years.

Sir George Turner.] Of course they are highly trained with us in our Colonies; they have a good foundation.

Captain Nathan.] Yes, but we want them to do something more than to make a trip; we want them to work with our men for a little while in order that they may mutually improve each other.

The Secretary of State.] Yes.

The Earl of Selborne.] I understand that Captain Nathan suggests that the Colonies should make the proposal.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] Yes.

Mr. Kingston.] I suppose it would be a matter of arrangement with each individual Colony.

Sir George Turner.] I think we ought to consider it at our next Premiers' Conference and let it come as a united offer from the Colonies. By the time we get back it will be October and we meet probably in January.

Captain Nathan.] I may say that it is not a thing that can be done without a great deal of discussion. There are difficulties of payments and legal difficulties, but they are all difficulties which could be overcome.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] Legal difficulties ?

Captain Nathan.] Well, difficulties about a man serving out of his Colony.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier.] That is easily settled by legislation. Captain Nathan.] They are all difficulties that can be settled.

97837.

I

Land DEFENCE.

S