THE DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 1 October 1909, Page 4

THE DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

[ . PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED. I NEW ZEALAND'S BATTLESHIP. f ' THE CREATION Or P\CiriC UNITS jr .- (By Telegraph—PrP93 Asaociation.! '■' .. | i ' ' . , Auckland, September 30 fw.-j'.vj.w..; Interviewed y.on :: arrival - to-day,. iSn 1 -: Joseph i e«aiob* the' v ImpOTial ; ! . Naval'Conferencr-,.that up to tho timo. of his .f.:-;,.i-v,:ileaving;',lJnglftnd , ;'ho /did; not,.feel- warranted-. : j^M^Jmaking:'Whjr.Jdefinitßl | work -of " tho conferenco, as tho 'proceedings F'J/'/WiL/throhgh'out/^^^^ F til, ■ thereforo, -Prime .Minister* of 'England,-. I who/was president of ; the, conference; mado .a bi.-:-... statomont -to .- tho ;House .of Commons ho had ESsf?Sid^Mned, : iwherijinteryie'ired /by 'press, represen-' h;.';,-; tatives in- Eilgland-nnd: other couutnos, to go I , into any details. Mr. Asquith, ha\ing made [i^i^t!s'}^sL^^i™Vf-to' ,^e", at/;liborly :jrio\ri ,to f deal/, with - corsz /'.'■--;, tain /as p'ecta/of/ tho work-'of-.jtho. coiifercrice. t.--.XVomj.'tho oufcsot.' ho hncl 'held th.o vio'.v, and must/bo flexible:: conditions -'t0..: enable ,tho difr'33na'pir -'fpi*,"' and the people behind best liilite'd 1 .work of tho conferenco was 1 approached in this - pf^tho• '/different'- -. 1y:../r;;;":So^rie.S:'.presonti , :.and,-'a3..if/alr6ady'..'blown,' :: / Australia - and Canada; complying: with what - I; :c'.. they, boliovcd to bo tho conditions - attaching: eini >ripri£.:tli«' feSft;;," 11f J 3 ?P|, ; baSW' a ?l 0c i . land, South Africa, and Newfoundland ad spiqt^'of /one } to serve all parts of the Lmpire Sir Joseph fi'.'- that, ho would liko to - remove ; an- impreshVivndticecl /had;'b by ■ (\ cablo from Ottawa, effcct thifc Now Zea:^a?l Tlu» -by-him/ -- • v --- • • •- f 4 ( No Attempt to Force a Voto. 1 At tho conference, where tho respective 6olf/^■r'-/^ govonung ,couiitrioS, had: theil- .i-opresofitatives, :-S®S! t ri OT^^:;:^;M*™P t '-\On;;-;the-i)artrof,, ariy . > . for. the vory < sidf-evident reason that , no majority voto at a conforonco of tho kind ; . , could be expected to bind or forco any of -& the self-governmjj countnw, tho preservation ; recognised to be im- :* r perative. In other -vordsj ,the docjsion of a 10 tipori;;'any point - c ? u , , n ? be expected to settle a matter that bp iby-vthe-'.Goverriirient of " '-:™.o ,tesj>Octivo:.countries concerned-'-' In his _ / judgment, however, a good work had been 'v i 1 ,V y J™?"™! Defence Conference, ' and though different portions of" the Empiro, • V recognising their undoubted'right, havo decided to support local as against one Imperial navy, yet the general result has been to ma- < o,t.v,:?® ll aUy i ßn'engthen:naval :defcnce; and a very > important stop forward has been taken towards i a the protection of British mtere-ts in tho Pa-So;/far.-;as.-iNow' is' , rhe > as '. its '- c. representative was a clear and definite one. ;' r om,. which, no departflre 'was "made by him-namely, tho support of one groat Im- * j P an , al • 4>a ™ l force, a portion of which -was New. Zealand-waters- - ; : 1 \ i t 'Tho Dreadnought Offer. V noticed somo people, in assuming W Zealand s representative, 7 had '&%s.!; ;^%--^2Pn^s^^wmb;:chMge''inl Tefereric6- ' k th o, o," c * of a Drondnonght was made or ; §HBK GS tod ..by him..> Tins is .quite: .mcorrect- . in ere yoa not a variation of any sort or kind 1 made regarding tho offer by New Zealand of a Dreadnought, w hick it wjl be remembered, , < an unconilitional ofiof, so-for as'tho con--3Po s , ltion i pf. tho battleship was 'cori-' .rit; tho' w wherever vit ■ the, ; reciuirements ;of.-the -British Navy. rho. Admn.4ty.Jind exprossed preference for a ofi/the 'Indomitable r'jlass, seemed to bo somd imis' i?;a''.S®', n ™orspndm :»in:,itha-minds.'-.of-'some'/people, criticising-,the.-; matter:' New Zealand battleship is to bo the flagship of t tie iiritish raeiuo -headfiuarters Aro to bo on tho China station. This was undoubtedly the nght -place for it .from -a' / strategical point of : view. :Ho had noticed with ifiome tbe. fact,:that soino' pebplo ap-i have ; known:that:the baso of the- ' ■j^S:.iyn.™ ! :.fleet'on>the China station is in British ! terntory—viz, Hong Kong He thought it &£'■=>& '. as v cotaplimeritafy.MvN'ew' f,\:-i> Zealand, that its /battleship was selected to' bo tho Admiial s flagship of tho Pacific fleet Our fey4S';WPiwnld"h»ye:&nlylbi6fn>:'made-onS'of the • j'i.frV. jt'-.Channel/fleet, without any sueh .'distinction be- ; it;; so' that" it" would -bo'scon i -, i .,,:. il that po. change of/-position /or.' attitude - was ' tafcon up by him in reference to tho offer of a 'erafinied:..l|V:'ParUa> at the disposition 'of :the'Admiralty;: ' One Groat Imperial Navy. 'Sir/'Josoph 'toidj-'as-'showing .the ' ;ff :oonorete form, .and ifor the infotmaof. tho, people of. New Zealand, '"who-ncces-.wero'.'coriserried /jri,.'.wfiat had' been done br him as their representativo in this' tmmattsr,;ho had. pleasure in handing forpublication tt copy of a lottei addressed by him fife^ ; ithe ■ Jirst Lord of: the Admiralty; the Jtight Us/'rep^tr-' of ' the IJrime .Minister' Of,-New: Zealand!'' Hotel Cecil > "London, August 11, 1009 j /Dear Mr M'Kenna,At^to}a£iy T s ? meeting joii :ta'plairied that'the general:idea underlying /thb Admiralty'/ memorandum /was :thot; tho:: present .iEastv -Indies; si t: . ' - - China, and ■ Australian squadrons . should - bo jweated/strategicaliyi n's, One: Fair'Eastera,' or,- as W7S! l -:.thought/ a . preferable /term, /Pacific, ; sGU . ff3'«'S-;S'i«on,taad - that /each, of, tho principal .portions S®Si'!-]oi-;this; station comploto /-fleet' y.:- > the: Commonwealth .Govornmest"'-'.main-. one'unitih^^Australian/waters'in lieu ; present iAustralian squadron, and . tho ■ i tho Dreadnought -cruisor.presented by New Zeaf?land.' forming./thoaflagship. of ;. If Canada found herself' able this !ngreem6rit;'hor : contributioriito tho'iPacifio ;bo. a/ fourth•;uriifc.-:'-'I., think' it : /wili'< conduce to ' clearness 'if- I stato my - views -iri irriting,,.henco thid meiriorandum;",:. ,: V;. expressed myself as generally satisfied with: ''S-'::V r ?!r'.this 'arrangement as,: a.'strategic Vplan,-but. I' point out that. if,-'aa: I / understand,'' Aus- 1 .is /-providing an"-independent'' unit,' it '-Uw -,'Bdp«»4!Bng : . of; the present/British-; 'arid- the fact of that-being l i.-.;-, . done would, on - its -completion,. determine -the with/Austrafia: : and 'New ,Zeafe\ r i-i; ! land,-:thiis creating an entir'ely new' position. orie great; ImperiaUriayy:'with all',the iri.ships |&./t^:.i : oi>i 0 riey, /and with, naval.stations at !the selfB/gS/XSgoterriirig ,:dominious,. supplied with 6hips "by 'andfunder/ithe ;controh. of.'tho/Admiralty;, 1, i- , .howovor, realiso. the'diihculhoß,' and. recognise '/Australia;: and 'Canada'.-iti/ this important, (•/:matter aro doing' that:: which'itheir- respective*, <s^e Ti Lm ® llts ' consider,- to' ;-bo : bast; ;>iit the fact te&yi -regains that the /-: alterationthat will v/ bo about-, uporivthe-establishment-of an. Australian yunit; willalteif-;th'o' 'pfes'erit t-' with Now Zealand. New ■ Zealand's maritimo | interests in her. own waters and her:dependent' yi?:fi-','.islands'in : the Pacific wpuUi/undoij./ffie'alte're'd kp : .;';;//';..arrarigement, .be almost e^tiroly/represented by V- ./v , • the. Australian-fleet unit, and not, as -at pre-by-'the: Imperial fleet. - This impor&nt j;:'consider-;-necessitates,'rsome. suitable, [a:/-.-- provision boing- made for .New Zealand, which <-ountry/ has/the'most, friendly feeling-in every. forVAristralia .and its people,'and I am jV: /:V?: arisious that' in -/the ■ initiationzo' now .arrange-. ..p.y-/--'. ments with the Imperial'.Government.under'the. 5/ -:_: .'altared conditions the interests of/New: Zealand ..' . , should nof be overlooked. 'I ■ consider 'it my. <fe'Sv'; ; -to have the direct J;Wi'-'.' corinbbtion :betweon'■ New^/Zealand .arid, the Soyal. Navy:maintained in somo concrete form. -Ileir-:vwiir'supply-:a- Dreadnought., for the /SSA "British Navy; Vas already<Sfi'orcdthe', - ship to ; bbTOdor-:the control of arid stationed whorovor. ' the' -Adniiralty .it, advipablb. :/I,fully, / tho"'creatibri;'6fy-Paoifiby units: . —pno-'in the-East,"one m Australia, and, it l-poSsiblO;' one :ln Canada—.would be a great im-;^rrbm'\Hbe'vfficistiiig^'e6noitioii;i-.oi.''' r: : \':. affairs, .arid/.the .fact:-that : the Now-Zealand ;;/S --.'/ DrKidnoughtiis: to/be the of the China--;SS-v I Pacific unit '.is,' in my opinion, satisfactory.' I, :/ -towever,'-'"consider, it is advisable: that, a portion .; . of the Cluna-Paciiic unit ' should.' remain in i'i:",- ;. :New-Zealarid waters, and:l;wonld suggest that :, v .. , .'two of the/new,'Bristol-crnisers,(together with three destroyers ■ arid twb:'.Bubrflariries, should : : : : be jdetached: from tho: China station in time of !■-- peace, and stationed in New Zealand waters; ithat these vessels should.' come ,under the. flag ; of ithe Admiral-of the China - unit; i that the /■:. -. ' flagship should make periodical visits to: Now 'waters jVand- that .'there should 'be an ®'interchange ;in/the .'service of /the bruisers between' New Zealand and China, under condition 3to be laid dowji. The ships should be ;.-i.monned: as far- as■ possible, by, New Zealand ';;?'!'K : Cbfficers'. ; tod'm6ni'- ; ftna.''in that Now Zea- '. landers .might bo - attracted, to. servo in -.the . . fleet, local rates shonld be-paid to thoso Now '- v : ; Zoalariders ,who enter. :in/.tho. same- manner as ;/':.i;/;tTider l .thb' . present . Australian and Now j. Eealtind agreement, Bueh local rates , being :y'/-y-; r: "

treated'us deferred pay. The: determination of. the-agreement with Australia has bf !rieces- . sity brought up tho position of Now; Zealand :under'::-that, j oint:agreement. - X therefore : gest that on tho complotion of the China- unit tho,' present .'.agreement with: New -Zealand should cease; that its contribution of .6100,000 per annum should-\continuo, and bo used-to pay. tho.difference in'the rates of pay to :New Zealanders above -what would ,bo, raid under the . ordinary roto. If tho contribution for the'advanced rati) of pay did-:not amount to ;i2100,000 per annum,-'any balance to be at the disposal'of .tho Admiralty; the whole -of this unit, to: be taken:in hand and completed before the Ond of 1012; and I .should , bo glad if,-tho squadron as a, whole.. ;wanld :,then .visit New Zealand on', .tho .'way to China, /leaving .New.; Zealand, detachment -there under its senior.'officers.—l, remain, .fours' sincerely,"J G Ward" The;. Admiralty Concurs. "Admiralty, Whitehall, -18th August, 1909." . '.'Dear.Sir Joseph,— ■ ;"Tho suggestions- modeiby you at tho meeting on /the'-11th instant, and recited by you in youif. letter- to mo of tho same dato,have bee'n r carefully? considered and concurred in by !■ the Admiralty. iThe present naval agreement with' Australia and. Now Zealand will-not be renewed, and in. view of this fact and the other.speoinVcircumstances'.referred to,by yoa . the . part of. tho China flcot unit, as sot 1 out by you,'; will.. be .'maintained ■ in -New Zealand as. their,' headquarters.,., YOnr; wish that, the •ships/of.tho /fleet /as, a whole, or 'at any.rate the . armoured' ships. and. -the. cruisors,- when completed,: should ;pay';a'visit to Now Zealand on the way .to China shall also boi carried out, : I, take'this opportunity on behalf of the Admiralty .of repeating.. thoir': sincere thanks, to . {he. New Government ..for.: taking ,so iimportant a part in the inception, of" tho present /conference.: The "Admiralty' feel. ; that every effort ysbould be made to,'work out a schemo'acceptable , to !the-.people' of New Zea- . iand,. ; .:having;regardi.to.-tho -patriotic ; action taken ■ bj yourself your Ministers in March .last —I..rpmam,. yours /sincerely, '-ir''.?•'■ A-" '"Iftsinold JfKenna." . .: ■ v New Zealand's. Position. The'; correspondence: (said Sir -'Joseph ;-.Ward) speakß -for itself, and makes tho position 'perfectly .clear.' : The -.Seven.: vessels -that-' are 1 ''to be, sent, to., New., Zealand will be of the ! most modern' 1 oharijctor,:-'aidvalL of -them will be -constructedi.bOtweeri.now r and :1012. ■ The'-.New : Zealand,:-:attachriient, ; ; which -remains -in New ; Zealand: waters,' will bo under tho control of ; officer,;,and:.he said he-felt con- . '"dent ; that, from fu.'careful;examination of. the : proposals'.outlined-: iri; his memorandum, which he. v:as "happy., to - say,-: were assented to by the ; Adnliralfy, it ivould be seen that, while New ' Zealand, stands, for one' great;lmperial l Navy, its important Interests as, a part of the British possessions.- havo.- been - well provided for.. 'He had': '.taken /the .opportunity ■ of .ensariug that - overy. facility I should bo given ,to. New Zea- { landers to join the ships in our waters, and in j order to help it forward ho proposed that wo , should, on the.expiry of tho-present agreement, which/takes :place..on tho.-completion' of the' i Pacific Fleet unit- m: 1912,- continue our con-''( toibuticm ; of /ilOO.OOO,: per annum; .. but -- this, 1 r ".ho-. -seen' from : his. memorandum ] to the Admiralty, .would bo for different ( puiposes-4iamely, ..-payment ,of -an extra i rato.--of -,:.payj:- to/./New - Zealanders above that, of- the -ordinary/British rate. - It had also | been arranged that as. far as possible the ships i should//be,.'.-manned;. by , '.New Zealanders,' and i .that/in. : oonrse of time,, as opportunities offer i themselves,/those/.who prove.' themselves elig- 1 i ible . for promotion should.' ascend tho rungs of ' the 'officers' : ladder, nnd'.thira have opened , to. j fhcin. as/a - profession- the -highest! positions .in i tho flavy.- It.must of necessity take, some time i before Our/yomig -men could qualify for such ' promotion,, but by remaining part of one ImpenaJ^Navy. it:.must :be remembered that the \ whole, fleet-of-ithe,-British. Navy was open to '< themi/aOno • of' Iho/ greatest 'drawbacks ' that ho saw to a:,local navy..was tho limitation that , must.be imposwl,upon officers and men in having such a, ;narro\7i field .to: upon,either from f the -point; of< view, of efficiency or of : ad-' . yanwment.v.. He might 7als6 - say the - battleship New.Zealand,;which the Admiralty ! prefer. to r haye, tho .type of tho-."lndomitable : i -riot, .as some suppose, b6 a cruiser, ! but: anrarraoufed ship,"about as costly to build , as, class -of vessel which coitK i potent liaval authorities 'express. strong, prefer- i encei.for as:;against r-what' is' ' Dreadnought-proper. - /There :-wai . a different* j °f opinion in- the, nival 'expert: world as to ■ which .was the.-bettor class of ship, but so far ; "l.hp opuld.,-gafchor,ihnd-'iw(iJ': no differerice'bf .opmipn-,as;,t()';/tKor'''lijdomitabl6'' armoured bat- ' tleship .being . more- satisfactory: arid effective' { as forming part of the Pacific Squadron th.in '■ r o.th.or -class of-. sshitp t V This,-h(jwovor, v he' : raid,,was -tf.'n)ijtter'."for.' the-,Admiralty;':-ANew - Zealand had:not suggested Ot its -offer: >' ono:iotd;,„-.He.might also 'say; weiwore to/pro- S ™e: the name 'for onr battleship/ and ;he had '- held vthis 'over/.in : order to have-the matter' / Of the , name/considered , in New.: Zealand, i Itpori'd -thuS/-bo seeni-,that :-not -only: did -our' ' battleship: become•'the flagship;of the- Pacifiri , btinadrnn/; in its individuality, staridine out '1 markedly ,/invthat respect.'but that (the right ' of.:, naming it - enable New 'Zealand in - years to...conio ,to/follow- the/ movements and : destiny,.Of "thet-:flrst-.'.battleship offered by a ' ■self-gaverninj/,dominion and . -accepted bv , tho • : Uld liafla;.v tJ .-'J •; \.• •' The Connection with Australia. > > '■Sir Joseph"also said that he had noticed some expression of ..regret on, the-part; of .isome ■ at . the severance of: our/connection with 'Australia' > in the.matter.of naval defence. 'He.was un(ablo./.to We' vere not ' separating ourselves from '..Australia / in. any ! sensp of .tho. term, -s Our attachment up io now i had/not,/been with-the squadron owned or ' controlled by, - Australia,' but with the British- '• pquadron./,; whose .-had. /been: '< . W v,i-A«striuia,'-: i-and-.V' ; which,,/':'.upon the i complotion:, .of the Australian unit, ivould ,/The suggestion, therefore, that, : the Admiral of' Australian units-should also bo : Admiral of the ships,in' Now-Zealand 'waters 1 .would in, practice be, unworkable, for the rea-' son that our ships would form part and parcel hil ° thoso of Australia would, be? known'-, as the Australian - ?-H r .would'be .undir" ; -the..cohtrol,/of. an Australian.admiral in:times 1 of war it' would • bo ; under, .tho control ;,it - the: British' Admiralty, • only copditionally::, upon-.; the.; .Commonwealth ' Goyernmcat first - assenting.' -Thero was, of ! course, no doubt: that - the' present or. future 1 Governfucnts would cooperate ! with tho ,-British' Navy, and do all in its poiver 1 ! for. tho preservation of.:tho.British Empire.' : Joseph, Mid that-tho Australian reproV sentatiye: ftt tho/ conference 1 (Colonel . Foiton) had, disoussed 'this .important Subject with-him • during the; sitting ' of the; conference.' 'S ■ fo «WM,;corrospondence, ,,-upon "the . matter would„shßw. ! tha;posiHonAta£ i n ™ .- "Dear Sir Josoph,— ■ tho scheme put forward at the confercnce I havo; : heard fr?m, Mr. .Deakin, 'who shronsly urges- that_you should fall in with this A B iite- j ro i? B ' 1 , t ) lill!£ ' l>We doubt about '/the suggestion ofthe Admiralty thut- wb 1 should take over ths' contho Sydnov: dockyards, etc.,- and that the Imperial GOTornmont BliaU subsidise Australia, &v o rr P re ? ent , a t all; events, to the extent of 5 °2® "betweon the' estimated- annual nrU -.T a - n w bich Australia 1 ■pould as her. share until she - can assume the whole .burden. The New Zealand « J per annum is to be applied, m aro told,;toward tho-upkeep: of the China nfw fho T 1 « to; bo P ald "unconditionally, .to the Imperial Government it will .prac-' so .into tho consolidated revenue of the United-lungdom,. arid .might just as well be' designated /as.Jjeing applicable to augment the! g, • Jor^t&emaintenance•' of e the Australian. (Or Australislart) unit as towarda thoso required for tho China unit ' of the Eastern fleet, with.-all .the advantage of its being understood,that the: two great fominions iu,,Australasian /waters had: made definite provision for,th&r'own-protection on lines which when the should, arise, will conduce to the seonnfy of the Empiro in the way most conformable .to tho^viows.: 6f the Admiralty. May. I pomt - outsat except in mero. namo Zealand s contribution will, under what propose, T havo pracMcally the"/same ouect so. far as.: New Zealand is concerned inasmuch as you ' wi I bo paying . per ■Tear - to tho Imperial Government, and-the latter will be subsidising Australia to a somewhat similar if not larger Amount? -Would it not be .well that . instead of : this sum 'beini; nominally applied, towards' maintaining > the unit m China, it should bo applied towards the maintenanco' of tho !Australasian . unit, which will :almost, certainly..bo the one to which' Now Zealand will have in tho first instauco to look for her protection f She' would at least have the satisfaction, of knowing that sho was in reality contributing to tho cost of maintaining the squadron whoso vessels will bo from time to time visiting her ports. Trusting that this vicw will even yet commend itself to you, I remain, eto„ ~ . "J* T. G. Poxton." Sir Joseph Ward's Roply. "Dear Colonel Foxton,— "I am in receipt of your letter, of to-day's date, and have .carefully noted the suggestions contained , therein. . J much, regret that: ! am •unable to fall in with jrhat is -.nipsased-Ttak.

bocausej, speaking for New Zealand, I beliovo it is in .tho best intorests not only of,that Do-' minion, but o£ tho Empiro as a whole, tliat we should remain directly attached to the British Navy. Second, to combine'with .tho Commonwealth in an Australian squadron';-means in reality the establishment and maintenance of a local fleet for New Zealand, as tho New Zea-land-unit of that squadron. Obviously, it 'would-bo unfair to. Australia, and objec.tionablo. to Now Zealand for? us to be attached to such a'squadron, , unless wo . paid for our own unit, which yould thus, in effect, be a local navy.' As a' matter of policy for New Zealand, I am 'against-tho establishment of a local navy, believing, asl do, that it is hotter for listo havo tho full support of tho wholo British.Navy forthe protection of New Zealand amonj; tho other great-interests of. tho Empire. Third, New Zealand is not. giving a contribution- of .£260,000 per annum, but is furnishing one Dreadnought, and proposes.to continue its contribution, of .£100,1)00. per annum'to tho British-Navy for the purpose of paying to New Zealanders on beard those ships, the difference between the Admiralty rates and tho local rates of pay. fourth, .as Australia, has decided to liavo, it?, own i local unit, it must be to its advantage as;,well -as that of New: Zealand to have a second, unit for the Pacific, the China fleet unit being on the. China and.New Zealarid'stations. -. v. • -i "I need hardly assure you of tho cordial feeling ofi friendship which is entertained ■ by ; iny Government -and the /pjoplo of. New Zealand for Australia, whoso successful develop-: ment and progress we take-the deepest interest in; "and I desire to express my hearty jjood wishes ,for the success, not only' of tho Commonwealth, but of tho whole navy policy whichits Government, in its interests, is adopting." "J. G. Ward." .'. It would be seen from the memoranda, said Sir Joseph, that the real point involved in tho first instanco was whether. New: Zealand was to detach: itself: fronuthe. Imperial Navy, ; -.ond join .with Australia in the provisidri ■of an Australasian fleet unit. . .From 'a perusal of tho correspondence, tho :co,urse ho had taken in the matter was,. he' thought, made quite Clear. - In his /opinion the r ,views he had expressed'on behalf of Now' Zealand-were the 3afest and best'from'the standpoint of Empire, as well as that:of. New Zealand. •/ , : Tho Question of Cost. .:. Sir Joseph, fhrther stated: ' A reason that must, of necessity bo considered, and should' riot be discounted by any .of us in New Zeais .tho .amount that would bo involved in establishing a local navy.-.For instance, the idea of'a. Dreadnought being in New Zealand waters alono would scarcely stand examination, for tho reason that such a ship would riot only l require ito be-supported by a fleet for the purposes of warfare, but. ufc present, there, is uo acckvin/.the Southern Hemisphere that could take in a Dreadnought, ,so that in the event of an accident or a breakdown of machineryjsucli 0 /vessel could;not be accommodated. When,therefore; - considering the- possibility of: New Zealand having a fleet of its' own wo are faced with tho fact that tho cost is entirely beyond the means of this country to undertake.' Tho present Australian squadron, for instance;, costs. X 900,000 a year.to maintain, and after close examination into 'the matter I do- hot think'that a fleet unit in New Zealand waters could ho maintained for .less than the 'sum> just named,.viz., ■ .£900,000- per annum,/'to- maintain the Australian squadron with the greater Proportion, of the: men paid at.,-British rates, u addition, the maintenance and up-keep of a :local' navy. ;iroold "not /.be,;- a■ diminishing quantity.:'. Tho "experience 'of ''every country which has adopted it has shown an increasing outlay, yearly.' -Hence,;from every point of view -it that the principle. of onegreat Imperial. Navy protecting; all . the outlying possessions of tuo Empire, is.to:-.be:pre-ferred to what I consider the ineffective' policy of small local fleets. ' .V / ' , ■' ■ :■■■ Military Dofonco. 1 • Referring; to tho question of military defence, Sir. Joseph shid'that very., great' attention .'had b.esn given ..to! that quostion, arid, to, organising: ,Of the military .forces throughout ithp Empire. Important conclusions' had"been' arrived at by the conference, but they were it'present of. a-Oonfidential character,-and as-. Some of the; recommendations must; form, tho' subjoct. of: legislation , it./was, not .possible' for him at present ,to give details, -but. ho could Say that very , valuable work had been dorio in connection with, proposals: for the organisation and control, of tho land forces iri the various parte of. the -Empire.: There will : bo uniformity of system; of regulations, arid of training, and' also' of arms."equipment arid stores. . Provision, .will be made, for -the -interchange of General Staff,f.Gfficors,,and '.also,.a. system of intercom?, mrinicationitbeiween stbe various sections"of tho' l Imperial General: Staff.' 'There aro a number of important proposals','.,all/ip '-.tho 'direction of making for..efficient'forces .throughout,.the.'Em-, pire.-' ; There was, of: course, no attempt,pri, the .part of thoconferenco to, force upon an}' 'portion :.of ■ .tho Empire, >through Jltheir.'-'repro-sentatives at ! .tho -conference/,cither a compulsory or. any otlior .system of :interrial',. training; 'Matters.', of .this kind to ,the 'pespectivo-; countries' to'' do • wh'ato'ver they consider best; as; a.- conference," to attempt to dictate: what system 'should' be adopted by :any Self-governing, country would'.bo .usurping/the .functions .of the countries, corioerried..'/ What:has. • been done, and ,which is most, .valuable:'! is tho '.adoption of " a /general: system -in - the. 1 .matter of organisation/arid' control; as'-already indicated providing, for uniformity! v The n.urii'be'r of men trained by the respective countries .must,-of ,necessity, be left to those, countries to-settle'fori-themselves. ' He, proposed at an early period of , the . session to .submit to Parliament . for, its -consideration M and.: ratification 'what had .been.'done by 'him,at th'o conference , on. behalf of New-Zealand.'-' ■ • ' '