The Dominion. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1913. NAVAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1655, 23 January 1913, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1913. NAVAL DEFENCE.

The Prime Minister, when asked in Auckland yesterday to make a statement concerning the Sydney iS'if/i\i<&tory of an almost completed naval arrangement between Australia and New Zealand, declined cither to deny or confirm the story. That, of course, makes it an idle thing to discuss the report seriously, but it should perhaps be .noted that the Sun's correspondent 'makes no statement concerning our Government's action or intention. A careful perusal of the cable message of yesterday will show that the report says only that the Australian Government communicated .its views to the Now Zealand Government, and that no doubt the Admiralty will approve of tho-"consolidation" proposed. That the New Zealand Government will approve the scheme : of amalgamation,' or will accept the Admiralty's approval of it, is a mere conjecture on the part of the Sim's informant. Personally, wc have always urged upon our public men the desirableness of considering some kind of Australasian co-opera-tion; indeed, wc fancy that we first made the suggestion. . Mr. Allen, in a speech in this city some months ago, went a considerable distanco towards advocating, not necessarily "consolidation" to begin with, but co-operation, at any rate, between Australia and this country. The administrative details of any such plan will'require time and, care in the working out, but the thing can bo done without establishing even the slenderest'shadow of a political nexus. . .'•'..'.■

The Australian Minister for Defence has, made an interesting statement upon Australia's position. Apparently the Commonwealth Government does not think it necessary "at present" to have a representative on the Committee of Imperial Defence. Senator Peakce observes that Australia, having made a beginning with its local navy, is so placed_that it can fit into any scheme of a joint defence of the Pacific. Ho moans, that is to say, that Australia has made a beginning with a real national movement in Pacific waters, which neither New Zealand nor Canada has yet done. For, of course, Canada's new naval policy,' if it is adhered to, is in some ways a hindrance rather than a help, so far as free movement in the joint defence of the Pacific is concerned. One sentence of Senator statement is worth "The Australian policy, he says," "differs from those ■ of the other Dominions, inasmuch as it provides for the training of officers and men to man our ships." ■ Here he emphasises one of the gravest , weaknesses of the policy of a money subsidy. The manning problem grows more difficult and important'with every ship that is laid down/ Mr.Massey is acting wisely in refraining 'to commit'the. Government, to, any final policy until Mr. Allen has obtained all necessary' information arid advice from the Admiralty, ,but we cannot, think that it is' riccessafy for him to give tho public no information as to what hd; been actually done, so far in the .'way of pfelimin-' ary negotiations cither with theAustralian,or British Governments.