THE NAVAL DEBATE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14840, 4 December 1913, Page 6

THE NAVAL DEBATE.

Both Mr Allen and Sir Joseph Ward are to be congratulated ,on the able manner in which, from different points of view,. they discussed the Naval Defence Bill yesterday.'. We have held from the first that this is a matter on which it behoves us all "to think Im- " porially," and that it ought not to be treated at a party question. We do not hesitate to say, therefore, that "wo agree with a good deal of what Sir Joseph Ward says with regard to the Strategical importance of there being one Navy, and ita being concentrated where it is most needed at the time. For ourselves we think that tho agreement made at the 1909 Conference— with Sir Joseph Ward's approval, if not his instigation—was from this point of view unsound. . That agreement provided for a local fleet unit on the China station, with cruisers and other vessels forming part of that unit stationed in New Zealand wafers. The Admiralty have not carried ont that part of their agreement because they found it "was against the true interests of the Empire that a naval force of such a character should be stationed where it. is not wanted, instead of placing it where it is likely to he most useful. . Mr Allen' Mmself has admitted the necessity of the fresh tispontUm,/or at any rate has acquiesced in it. { He,is on strong ground,' however, when he urges that the New Zealand, and any battleship provided by Canada, as an emergency contribution, should be regarded as suplemenfary to the British provision— should be used, in fact, not to lighten the Liberal Budget, but to increase the margin of British security.

The provision in the Bill for enabling New Zealand to reinforce the British Navy by helping to provide officers and men, strikes us as in every way excellent. We are not. convinced .as at present advised that'the building of a Bristol cruiser to be stationed in New Zealand .waters, will as an effective contribution to Imperial defence be. worth the money it will cost. That,' however, is a question which must come up for decision in the future, when a vote. is asked for the necessary expenditure. : At present we have to do with the provision of facilities for training New Zealanders for the Navy, and that ought to receive the unanimous support of the House. A steady supplyof officers 'and men, well-trained and fit for naval service in any part of. the world, is certainly the best contribution we can make to Imperial Defence. It will certainly tend to keep alive in the most effective way, an interest in the Navy and our pride in its traditions.