A DOMINION NAVY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15868, 5 April 1917, Page 7

A DOMINION NAVY.

CONFERENCE TO BE

PROPOSED.

DISCUSSION BY NAVY LEAGUE

At tho meeting of the general eomnntteo of tho Navy Leaguo last night, a discussion ensued upon the recommendation made by tho annual meeting that a confcrenco of representatives ol' Cno other branches of tho Navy League in the Dominion should bo convened u> discuss the question of the establishment of a New Zealand navy.

The chairman (Mr A. Boyle) said that tho League should certainly give a lead in tho matter. In tho past the Leaguo had not put itself in as forward a position as it ought to have been boeauso it did not roaliso what tho navy meant and what its future was. He was qui to certain that tho day wouljl como when New Zealand would have a navy of its own. Mr J. J. Dougall said ho concurred with tho chairman's views, and held that it was ono of tho functions of the Leaguo to load public opinion in the direction indicated. Mr \V. Walton said ho was perfectly convinced that tho subject should be brought before tho public. Colonel Hobday said tho subject had been discussed by tho Leaguo soimi years ago, but it was then rather premature. Tho timo was now ripe tor ' tho League to define a policy. Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown said ho regretted that he had to strongly diller from tho previous ■ speakers. TJk> Leaguo had previously turned down tho idea of a separate navy. Ho had grave doubts regarding a separate navy, and feared that if established it might encourage separatist ideas.. They wore so confident of their loyalty in New Zealand that thoy did not think such a thing remotely possible. In the event of Canada and Australia and New Zealand having strong navios, ana tho present loose federation of the Empire continuing, thoy did not know what' might happen if "tneir backs were put up" by somo Minister at Home. On that ground there was much to bo said against a separate navy. Ho thought the present time inopportune to discuss tho question. They did not know how tho war would end, though ho hoped i< would bo favournblo to tho Empire; but they were still a long way froir being out of tho wood. Then wouic como tho peaco terms and tho post-wci settlement of tho British Empire. Things in respect to tho last-mentioned matter woro in tho melting-pot. In tho event of an Imperial Council of Defence being set up, with each part of the Empire contributing proportionately to the defence of tho Empire, would tho separate navy schemo work »i with that? Ho thought a conference might do good if it discussed whether or not tho Dominion should increase its voluntary contribution to the British Navy or have a separate navy. Till the post-war situation resolved itself it seemed to him inopportuno for them to formulate a policy which might be stultified by futuro events. Tho chairman remarked that whatever action was taken or whatever decisions were arrived at by the proposed conference would ,bo only in the naturo of suggestions. It was not beyond their lino of action to formulate somo scheme. Ho was qui to certain that tho pooplo of tho Dominion would never take interest in tho Navy or got New Zealandetß to man it unless they had fihips off their own. The New. Zealand Navy would bo only the Dominion's Navy in peace timo ; in war timo it would bo the Empire's. Ho mentioned that from. letters ho had received from Home it appeared likely that, after the war tho British Admiralty would lend the Dominion training ships of a better class than hitherto. A New Zealand navy would be a great inspiration to tho youth of tho Dominion. Mr Bevan-Brown eaid that if the Navy League pronounced for a New Zealand Nary it would have a , very strong effect on Mr Massey, who was strongly inclinod in- that direction—he' (tho speaker) did not know why. If Mr Massey wont in for a Now Zealand navy ho might give tho British Government a great deal of trouble if that Government had other schemes Moot. Ho poin'oed out that it would bo quite possible for the Dominion to own training ships without owning a navy. Mr Walton said .he thought Mr Bevan-Brdwn lost sight of . the main point. If there was anything about : which ho had been oonvinced since tho war started it was the duty of this country, and of overy country Under tho British flag, to bo able to defend) its own shores. At present New Zealand did not possess tho remotest power to do so, but depended on a power 11,000 miles away. Whero would New Zealand havo boon when war was de-' clared but for tho Australian Navy? Tho chairman: And tho Japanese? ' Mr Walton: And the Japanese. "Wo should havo been in a most parlous 6tate; all our coast towns would have v been shelled, and wo would have had to pay huge sums. Mr Bevan-Brown: Because there was no British squadron in theso waters. Mr Walton, continuing, said thai thoy wanted a navy suitable for tho defence of their own shores—thoy did not want on offensive navy, but a defensive navy; and he thought 99 out of overy 100 neople would support that opinion. Ho telieved Sir James Allen supported that view, and also Mr Massey, and they should support tho Government in that direction. Mr Dougall : "And Sir Joseph Ward is ngainst . it." Continuing, Mr Dougall suggested that tho views of tho chairman and Mr Bevan-Brown should bo discussed by tho proposed conference. On Mr Dougall's motion, seconded bj Colonel Hobday, it was decided that the chairman and Sir Bevan-Brown should draw up tho circular letter to "tho othei •branches of tho Navy Leaguo in th< Dominion, inviting theni to send representatives to a conferonco to discuss the question of a Now Zealand Navy, the letter to include tho views expressed by both gentlemen.