FLEETS & SAFETY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1767, 4 June 1913, Page 7

FLEETS & SAFETY.

THE PACIFIC PROBLEM.

RETURN OF HON. J. ALLEN.

SHIP'S'AND CONTROL.

DEFINITE PROPOSAL READY.

(By Teleerapli — Special Correspondent.] Auckland, June 3. Tlio Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister for Finance and Defence) returned by tho Makura this morning, looking exceedingly well after his six months' absence from tho Dominion, arranging tlio country's financial affairs, and conferring with the Imperial authorities as to New Zealand' 3 best line of policy in the matter of naval defence. Tlio Minister and his party, which includes Mrs. Allen, Miss Rona Allen, and Mr. F. Matthews (privato secretary), had a very pleasant voyage, and a'l roturn home in the best spirits. Mr. Allen was accorded a civic reception th's afternoon. Notwithstanding that he had not breakfasted when assailed on tho steamer by a pressman this morning, the Minister was cheerful and optimistic. He remarked, in reply to the first query, that his finw cial mission had been eminently successful, and tlmt he relumed with definite prjposals to place before his colleagues regarding tile naval question. And those proposals? ventured tho interviewer. "Ah," replied tho Minister, "I should liko to take tlio public into my confidence but it is essential that the Prime Minister and . my fellow-members of the Cabine; should first bo acquainted with them. Whatever our naval policy is to bo muse remain with the Cabinet to say. I ein say this, though, respecting our naval programme: It is quite clear that whatever course is decided upon, there, need bo no i'ear that any New Zealand quota to the Navy will be put under Australian control." Will there be one fleet in Australasian waters 'i "I am sorry that, on this point, I cannot say anything. The policy must be decided by the Cabinet. lam only an instrument in their hands to gather information. and report to the best of my ability, but 1 can assure you that, if anything is done in this direction, our quota will bo under New Zealand control in such a case, though it might, of course, be used in conjunction with the Australian fleet in the event of fleet mobilisation." "Yes," continued the Minister, in reply to a further question, "I have come back with a definite proposal, as a result -if consultation with tho British Admiralty and the Committee of Imperial Defence. Of course, it is really tho Coinm.ltee of Imperial Defence." "I have always said, and I say it again now," declared Mr. Allen, in answer to a query on tho Pacific defence question, "that there is a necessity for combined action in tho Pacific between Canada. Australia, and New Zealand. ,T have always said that, and I have never altered my opinion, and tho same opinion (I gathered on my journey through Canada) is held by a great many Canadians.'* Canada—tho Borden and Laurier Policies. This led the way to an opinion by tin Minister on tho crisis in Canada over tlio naval policy of the Borden Government of that Dominion, upon being informed that the Senate had rojected tho proposal to build three Dreadnoughts, and place them under tho control of tho British Admiralty. Mr. Allen agreed that a difficult situation faced tho Government. "If Mr. Borden can accomplish his objcct of getting n redistribution of seats, that will certainly givo him a _ majority in tho Western States," ho said, "that is a good policy for him, and one that I can well understand, l'or it must mean that Quebec, and the East generally, will lose setts. Mr. Borden got into power by making an alliance with the Nationalists, who were opposed to the Laurk>r policy, and wero generally disgusted with Mr. Laurier himself—partly over the okl fleet arrangement. They were not at one with Mr. Borden over the fleet question, but tho alliance was based principally on the reciprocity policy. Mr. Laurier and liis party are naturally smarting under what they consider to be tho disaffection of their own followers, ( and ever since their policy has been to bring about .a dissolution, and go back to the country. They are, in short, willing to "sacrifice almost everything to gain their purpose, even to tliopoint of Empire disintegration." ' Mr. Winton Churchill's "Touring F.lefi," Speaking of Mr. Churchill's touring fleet proposals, the Minister remarked that ho really did not see what material service such a policy would afford to this part of tho world. "Of course, from Canada's point of view," he added, "it would be a capital idea for them to support a squadron, cither for the Mediterranean or the North Sea. Such a squadron would bo right enough for Atlantic purposes, and as a defenco for tire eastern shores of Canada, but, as far as the Pacific is concerned, I do not think that it would bo of any material value. Such a fleet would undoubtedly be of value, but not the kind of valuo wo want. N:?w Zealand's danger is not from Europe in that sense. No European fleet is likely to tako tho sea for this distant objective, but- there are Powers that could gel here without having to deal first with Great Britain. Great Britain's fleet is not big enough to ;Eilit up, and put fleets into two places at "the ono time, and that is tho problem which faces us. Australia is facing it. So far we have not done, so."

Imperial Dofcnce Committee. Questioned on tho subject of the Imperial Defence Committee, and whether New Zealand would be represented on it, Mr. Allen replied: "If yon ask me if New Zealand was represented on tho Imperial Defence Committee I say no—not directly —but I attended, and tho committee asked me a question, nud I told them I would suggest cert-am things to tho Cabinet. Tho suggestions wero considered to bo quilo satisfactory, and that, I am afraid, is all that I can tell you just now. There wero only two meetings of tho commjttee held while I was in England, and I was at both of them. Tho Committeo of Imperial Defence, you must know, really consists only of the Primo Minister, who'invitea whom ho likes to it." Mosquito Fleet. And what about our mosquito fleet, proposed for Now Zealand? suggested tho pressman. "Mosquito fleet proposal for N?w Zealand!" exclaimed the Minister in surftrise. "I have never said tlmt New Zcaand must have a mosquito fleet. I havo talked about a mosquito fleet, and the purposes of such « fleet, but I assure youi I havo not said to anybody, in Canada or elsewhere,'that wo must have a mosquito fleet." HOME ARMY, CRUSADE BY LORD ROBERTS. Auckland, Juno 3. Questioned as to the working of tho Territorial system at Homo, tho Hon. Jos. Allen said that practically everyone there upheld tho Now Zealand Territorial system. "Even those," he remarked, "who nro now upholding- the Territorial system in England. Tho reason is that they all feel that New Zealand is doing tho right thing. There is a great deal of misrepresentation of the New Zealand system being circulated at Home, but the people value it for what it is worth. As a matter of fact, they take no notice of the misrepresentation.

"The Territorial system at Homo does not go far enough, and does not provide what I think should bo essential l'or n Territorial defence-force in Kngland; but Lord Roberts is making great headway, and it is astonishing how public opinion is changing on the subject.

"While 1 was at Home i addressed a public meeting at Bradford 011 this question, among others, and although Bradford is supposed to ue what you would cull a •'hit Rlas9>' at which to .venture on the,.

subject, I received an excellent hearing, which, I (hint, is significant." EDUCATION. THE MONTESSORI METHOD. In the course of an interview, Mr. Allen remarked that ho was sorry that he had not becnable to spare more time 'wlien at Homo in looking into educational matters. "I am quite satisfied that, had the time been available, X could have done a great deal in llio way of gathering very valuable information," ho observed. iJo added: "But I made it my business to collect all I could in tho limited time I had at my disposal, and, anions; other things, I managed to obtain some useful information un ono or two systems to place at tiie service of the Department. 1. gathered some very interesting and useful data as the result of mi examination at Home of the Montcssori system for infant instruction _ in primary schools, and I have also examined into tho secondary system of Switzerland —the Glarisegg system. I also took all opportunity of going to see one of the best of the schools at SaiuJlcbrUlgc. 1 might say, by the way, that there are developments there which 1 intend to bring before our Education Department," CIVIC RECEPTION. Auckland, Juno 3. The Hon. J. Allon was tendered a civic reception at the Town Hall by the Mayor. Thoso present included the Hon. K. 11. Rhodes and Messrs. Bradnoy, Lang, and Mander, M.l Vs. The Mayor welcomed Mr. Allen on behalf of citizens, and the latter lightly sketched his experiences at Home, adding that he was glad to bo back.