COLONIAL FLEETS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 10

COLONIAL FLEETS.

A NAVAL VIEW,

Naval questions vitally.affecting New Zealand are discussed in an interesting way in a letter which has been received by. Air. C; W. Palmer,! the Wellington secretary of the Navy ; League. The ■writer is Mr. C. M! Luckhain, who was secretary to Admiral' I'anshawe, when that officer 'was in command of the 'Australasian Squadron. 'In his then position, Mr. Luokham liad a good deal to; do'with tho preparation of the Australasian. 1 naval agreement. In ; his ■letter to'.Mr. Palmer (dated from Admiralty House, Portsmouth), he expresses the view that New Zealand is taking • a much sounder view of tho Imperial Navy question than Australia. He attributes this very largely to; the work of the, Navy League.

■ r"I ;was riot at' all surprised," . he continues,. ,"that Australia should revert to'the colonial navy ideaj as I could ; se<y. even then,, that though the Commonwealth Govemraont accepted tho agreement, they would not have had it endorsed if: there had been a referendum to tho nation on the point. I think it. is to be deplored that Australia has struck out for herself, but as it was clearly the wish of the.majority,! supposo it.was the right thing to do."' But it will ho a ; pity that-they have .done so if this latest idea of an Imperial. Upper House in place' of the. presont Houso of Lords should como into being, and I. think it not at all unlikely,; ■■ and I think it would be a most' excellent thing, and knit us all more closely together, and then there would be no question of colonial 'liavies;_ T myself can't see what good it-'will'bo: for Australia to have an Indomitable out there. Sho could not be brought into active use against any European; nation until long after the decisive action hart taken' place, aud her presence in the North Sea or the' Channel might have made all tho difierence. Of course, there is the Yellow Peril, but', there again one, or even two or three Indomitables would be finished off before our main fleet could arrive on the scene. If Australia' had 20 or 30 million inhabitants, aud could run to a fleet of battleships and their accessories, it would be a different matter, perhaps, but at present! can't help, thinking that an indomitable in 'Australia is a big fighting unit wasted." Mr. Luckliam also remarks: "I don't cyppose. I shall find myself in New Zealand;again, much as I should liko to, unless I come out there to settle after-1 1 retire, which idea has been in tho back:of my head ever since I saw tne country." ■ -