THE NAVAL POLICY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14886, 28 January 1914, Page 7

THE NAVAL POLICY.

INTERVIEW WITH MR A. M. MYERS, M.r. (TBLOII OCR OWN CORRESrOXDEKT.) LONDON, December 19. Mr A. M. Myers, M.P., has been interviewed a good deal in the papers here. In the • Daily Mail" interview, which occupies, with a photograph, a next-to-leader position, ho warmly approves New Zealand's naval defence departure. -Tho decision of New Zealand to have a navy of her own is not a step backward, but :-. step forward in Imperial dovelopuii-nt," said Mr Myers. "It certainly ii.cans no slackening m loyalty .md no desire to escape our ■ share of the bunions of Empire. On the contrary, we are placing greater burdens on our cwn shoulders. In place of contenting ourselves with the easier and cheaper plan of sending a contribution to the British Admiralty wo are making ourselves responsible for our own ships. New Zealand, in the days when its people are few, is laying aright the foundations for tho only possible permanent policy for tho years ahead, half a century hence, when our population ehall equal that of England herself., "When, in 1909, New Zealand ottered ! a Dreadnought to tho Empire, it was on tho understanding that this ship should form part of the China Squadron and should visit New Zealand waters every year. We anticipated the coming of a remodelled Pacific jpleet in which New Zealand, Australia, and Canada should each be specifically represented— a fleet which would in time be strong enough to meet any demands made on it. ' This agreement has not been carried, out. For reasons of naval strntegy, which everyone knows, the Admiralty resolved to centre its strength around tho North Sea-, and tho New Zealand is to form part of a Gibraltar Squadron. Tho Mackenzie Government, fully concurring (recognising that the circumstances demanded it), agreed that the battle-cruiser should po placed in whatever position tho Admiralty might determine. PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE. "Tho effect of this on New Zealand itself is that to-day we find ourselves having to rely for "naval protection on a Power which is now bound to England by a treaty of alliance, but which may become in time by a turn of events, not a protection, but a menace. Wo are not content to leavo our protection in "ho hands, of the Japanese Fleet. Therefore we have resolved to make a start in having a navy, of our, own, under our own control, manned by our own people, and in time, .we hope, built in our own yards. Prudent statesmanship requires that the international possibilities of, say, twenty years hence, shall be anticipated as far as human political foresight permits. "Wo can only make a email beginning. A nation of one million cannot start by manning Dreadnoughts. We shall probably work in harmony with Australia. Naturally, this new growth of Dominion navies will bo carried out on a common system for the whole Empire. Just as our land forces are trained, armed, and officered after one Imperial system, making them a unit in Empire defence, so. we hope, wiU our navy be. There will naturally be an interchange of officers with the British Navy, our weapons and ammunition will' be of the same type, our training, drill, and discipline -will be tho universal training, drill, and discipline of die Empire ships. In short, there will be a New Zealand unit of Imperial naval defence, for which we make ourselves responsible and for which we pay. lhe full development of t : :is policy vaturally raises the quost-cn of direct representation of the Dominions on the Imperial P?fence Committee. NEW ZEALAND'S PRACTICAL LOYALTY. "If New Zealand were likely to 'cut the. painter.' then possibly this policy of a navy of her own might be dangerous. But- does anyone regard thisr as possible? If so, he does not know New Zealand. People at Home must recognise that, while there is a growing desire on the part of the Dominions to assume their share of the burden ot Imperial defence, there is a growing feeling against placing all the responsibility, the power, and the work in tho hands of the authorities in London. You can best ensure the permanent cooperation, of iha .Dominions by basing it on national sentiment. This national sentiment in New Zealand, in Australia, in Canada, and elsewhere, is the very corner-stone of Empire growth. Just as local pride and local rivalry between towns help the growth of a country," so natioufll sentiment can be used for the growth of Empire., I live in Auckland. Between Auckland and Wellington there is constant friendly emulation. Each tries to surpass the other. New Zealand benefits. So you must recognise in England that the national spirit of the new lands of the Empire is not only inevitable, but. rightly directed, can be made the sure basis of Imperial security and prosperity. "What is the use of a small people, a nation of a million like New Zealand, attempting to build-a navy of her own? you ask. New Zealand does not stand alone in the defence of the Pacific. Australia has laid the foundations of her fleet, and Canada is bound to have her ships. And if a conflict on the Pacific should come, a possibility of the future which we recognise, the fleets of the three British Dominions would not stand by themselves. The visit of the American Fleet to New Zealand waters has been interpreted, probably rightly, to mean that if our white peoples are attacked the United States will take her place alongside of ns. "The Pacific will in the future be the straining point of world peace, as the North Sea is now. It is for us members of the Empire in the Pacific to see to it that wo aro prooared to meet whatever may arise. That Is what we desire to do. Our action will help the naval position of the whole Empire. Take shipbuilding, for instance. It will no longer, in the future, be a case of relying on British yards alone. If England has Italian and German and Austrian yards building against her. she will have New Zealand and Australian and Canadian yards building ships for her side." The great need of New Zealand at tho present time, Mr Myers declares, is settlers of the right typo. People with families who know something of country life can land in New Zealand with £500 with every assurance for the future. x