HANDS ACROSS THE SEA

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1769, 6 June 1913, Page 5

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA

PACIFIC NAVIES. Or ffoleerSDli-Press Ao»ociatlon—CouyrlKhl ' Sydney, June 5. Referring to the question of tho defence of the Pacific, tho "Herald" says: "If the recommendation Mr. Allen. brought back from his conference with tho British Government is that New Zealand should create its own naval force in tho Fncilic, we can assure him that ho need not fear any attempt by Australia to obtain control of it. Tho adoption by New Zealand of a policy of maintaining its own ships, even if they bo, in tho first instance, only a flotilla of destroyers and submarines, is too important in tho interests of both countries, and Canada and the Empire also, for Australians to jeopardise it by vain talk of Commonwealth predominance of control. Doubtless," from -ordinary considerations of prudcnco and business thero must be co-operation, and probably close and intimato co-operation, between tho New Zealand and Australian units. Tho Commonwealth will. certainly give Now Zealand every assistance in its power. If we enter into an arrangement regarding co-operation wo shall enter as equals. If Canada does not join in the scheme, all the more need' for the ■ closest cooperation between Australia and Now Zealand."