LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

IN SEARCH OF A NAVAL DEFENCE POLICY.

i Sir,—Momentous changcs aro shaping themselves in Imperial naval defence, yet tho Premier is denying tho publio that enlightenmoat which ho himself demanded so insistently when in Opposition. This reticence of tho Government is exciting distrust, and is surely unwise, remembering Mr. Massoy's promise that ho would parry tho public with him in his legislation. Tho published reports of Mr. Allen's utterances in Australia and in Loudon are surprising. He seems obsessed by the ono idea of joining Australia in forming a colonial navy for tho defence of tho Pacific; and, although the Premier has recently spoken of t'ho loyalty of New Zealand in his usual honest and characteristic manner, yet there was an ambiguity in what he said about New Zealand's naval policy which leaves us suspicious that our naval policy is being manufactured for us in Australia. Wo know what tho Canadian Government have declared for, and also what tho Opposition there aro contending for; in South Africa we know tha-t Generals Botha and Ilertzog aro in opposition on tho question j and wo know detinitely what Australia's naval policy is. Thero seems, then, no reason, apparent to tho average man here, why our Government should keep us in tho dark as to what has been decided in London, especially when it appears very evident that the people of New Zealand arc possessed of tho sano and certain opinion that, in tho matter of Imperial naval defence, this Dominion must sink or swim with Great Britain.

New Zealand's gift of a Dreadnought was intended' to convey to the world tho intimation that in time of her neod Great Britain could rely upon receiving loyal assistance from her overseas dominions; but tho contention exhibited now in Canada and in South Africa, and the provisional and dubious' promise of help from Australia, aro sufficient to cause possible enemies to doubt tho loyalty of the overseas dominions, and determine Great Britain to trust to her own peopio to provide naval defence for tho Home-land.

The chimerical idea of tanning a local navy, or even an efficient Australian Navy, is absurd. A recent writer lias pertinently stated tho difficulties in. tho way of possessing a local fleet. 110 asks—(l) "\V3iere, in any (f tho oveiseas dominions, arc tho shipbuilding yards, the naval constiuctar, and tho artificers to construct such a ileet? (b) Whoro are tho educated officers and trained soamen to man it? And (c) whore is the money to bo got to pay for it?" However desirable it may be in tho future, .when th 6 resources of tho overseas dominions have matured, surely it is evident to tho most careless thinkor that at present, and for somo years to come, we in New Zealand will not be in a position to provide our own naval defence.

A Britisher, who lias been ten years in this Dominion, and who has also spent somo time in Canada and South Africa, tho writer is of opiion that, however flattering it may bo to tho prido of tho peoples of tho overseas dominions to think of organising and maintaining iiaval defence for themselves, yet, because of violent differences of opinion and lack of homogeneity, there will bo for somo time to come a saae multitude in each country which will oppose this idea of local navies. To write plainly, tho Britisher at Homo, or in tho overseas dominions, will not rest content with the dominions' promises that their local fleets will always bo availablo to assist tho British fleet in time of need. He will contend that Britain muist provide for fcer i own defence— with her back to tho wall, if need be.

There are other reasons why ho should doubt tho wisdom of relying upon help promised by tho overseas dominions. Without discipline, no army or -navy' can bo successful in war; and there is a wide difference as to tho meaning of discipline in Great Britain and in the overseas dominions. Great Britain can rely upon t'lio moralo of her navy; eha has tho gloriout traditions of the past 'upon which to rest Tier trust and her faith; and time has yet to prove whether- c-r . nc 4 - « . nav.v onraniged

rmil intoned Dy'thiS people of a democratic country, governed by Socialistic Labour unions, is likely to bo a 6ource of added strength in emergency to an Imperial Navy. Statesmen in the overseas domiinons should seo in this argument alone a strong reason to postpono the idea of possessing _ local fleets, while _ they gradually train their rising generation to •love the service of tho sea, under the traditions and disciplino of the Royal Navy, Let us, here in New Zealand, then consider the advantages of tho education our lads would receive in visiting all countries of' the world as officers and seamen of tho Imperial Navy, and hour useful such wide experience would be when eventually they returned to settle in the Dominion.

For' these, and many other reasons that w'll occur to thinking men, not trammelled by party politics, sectional navies, promoted to propitiate the Socialistic democracies of tiio overseas dominions, would be a liuge political blunder, which would, in. all probability) lead to ultimate alienation from tiro Homeland, eventual loss of national prestige, and capture by somo alien nation.

No, the policy initiated by Sir Joseph Ward, and still advocated by him, is undoubtedly tho most desirable naval policy for New Zealand. Under the Homeland's fostering caro she can continue to develop her resources, increase her population, and mature into a nation when, as a partner and associate, she can then pursue her destiny with lior sister overseas dominions, as a member of a great Imperial British Empire. And there is no reason why, while thus foreseeing her destiny, she 6'hould not at once begin to nourish the embryo of what would in time become her own naval defence. Lot her institute a Naval College for the education and training of offi. cere on a similar educational basis as tho Osborne and Dartmouth Colleges in the Homeland. Let her organise Naval Cadet Corps, and increase the number of train-ing-ships as primary schools for these cadets. In fact, let us here in Now Zealand institute a similar system of naval training as that existing in; Great Britain, but, of course, upon more modest lines. In carrying out this policy wo would be carrying into effect both Sir Joseph Ward's aaid Mr. Allen's ideas, as our cadet officers and trained youths could then pass into tho regular ships of the Imperial Navy, and the expenses attending the sschemo could be considered part of the Dominion's increased subsidy to Imperial defence; thus we should be at one and tho same time helping the Imperial force with a proportion of officers and men, and providing personnel for the Navy we desire ultimately to possess. The greater portion of our cash subsidy would be expended by the Imperial authorities in tho construction of Dreadnoughts, etc., which, like H. 11.5. Now Zealand, would become the New Zealand portion of the Imperial Navy, until, in tho evolution of time, New Zealand had increased in population, and become a nation of commercial and political importance. These more or less crudo remarks are submitted in the hope that tho subjeot i may receive more attention from tho pubI lie than it has received hitherto. Our 'naval defence, involving as it does, the future existence of the Dominion, should be a subject of absorbing interest to everyone interested in tho development of the colony; and if tho Government will not enlighten us, it is well that public opinion should endeavour to form itself, oven thougfh in doing so we may be groping about in tho dark, until such time as our Ulysses return from his travels in scarch of a naval defence policy.—l am, Ct °" PEO PATRIA.