NAVAL POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 4

NAVAL POLICY.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION LOCAL NAVIES ASSAILED. There was no discussion upon the Bill as it passed through its several stages, until it was reported from Committee. At that stage a discussion upon naval policy was opened up. SIR JOSEPH WAIiD (Awarua) asked tha Government to make known its naval defcnco policy. It was a matter which should be elevated entirely abovo and beyond party. No member of the House could do other than recognise that no Minister for Finance could properly indicate to the country what its financial responsibilities were when no decision had been arrived at in this matter. The- Government- had boon in office quite long enough to make up its mind, and it would be idle to tell him that an announcement, should be deferred pending nny further correspondence. In June last Mr. Allen had stated that ho had prepared a schomo I in connectioA Kith naval defeneoj and.

upon his roturn to tlio Dominion would refer it .to his colleagues for affirmation. It was fair to tho lion, gentleman to ask that ho should state whether any difficulty had arisen. It was not a matter lor secrecy, and tho House should bo told if any difficulty had arisen. Let tho Government submit tho matter to the arbitrament of tho House, t-o bo dealt with clear of party. The attitudo nl' (tho 'Admiralty in liis tinio was: 0110 Navy for tho British Empire. In support of this ho quoted a statement by Lord Twoedmouth, in 1911, and another by Mr. Winston Churchill more recently, tlmt tlio Admiralty was 111 favour of one Navy. Mr. Churchill had added: "If any of the oversea countries wish to do otherwise, then wo will help them all wo can." Ho had liiado no attempt to find out what tho Minister was doing about 'naval matters when they were both in London, but would ask him now whether ho had not sought to press a view upon tho Admiralty which was against the view held by responsible men in London.

Standing by the Navy, Attending tho Naval Conference and tlio Imperial Conferenco on behalf of New Zealand ho (Sir Joseph Ward) had mado it absolutely clear that New Zealand stood by tho British Navy solely. Ho had mado it clear that if this young country allied itself with any other country in naval matters it would be ruination to tho Dominion. Ho had declined to bo a party to anything in tho shape of local navies. An Unconditional Gift. Tho Dreadnought New Zealand, ho continued, was an unconditional gift. In view of this ho had at one© assented to the proposal of the Admiralty that tho Dreadnought should, be stationed in tho Mediterranean instead of on the China station. Ho denied the .accuracy of suggestions that this implied any breach of faith on the part of the Imperial authorities. • There was no breach of faith on the part either of tho Government of Now Zealand or of tho British Admiralty. He had as warm >a feeling for tho Australians as anyone, but ho considered tho' establishment oi a local navy unwise. It meant, upon, the basis of tho report supplied by RearAdmiral Henderson, that Australia had committed itself to an expenditure of botween twenty and thirty millious sterling. Already it had been found that tho amount had been underestimated by several millions, and that when it was completed Australia's annual 'expenditure upon naval defence would-bo somo seven millions. Ho went on to speak about the enormous cost of building battleships, stating incidentally that tho Dreadnought New Zealand was already quite eclipsed by later ships. The obvious thing to do, ho continued, was to maintain tho connection with the British Navy, and in peaco time what did it matter where the ships were! 1

A Prediction. If Now' Zealand committed itself to a local navy, within threo years afterwards its naval expenditure would mount up to £750,000 a year. Men of means and property in New Zealand had told him that tho day the country committed itself to a local navy they would leave it with all they had. He was ono of thoso who would do tho same. (Light laughter.) "I hear one or two honourablo gentlemen laugh," ho continued. "I don't mind that. I suspect they would he rather glad if I, did I" During his Administration lie had selected 'Auckland as a' base 'for tho "local squadron. If Now Zealand joined hands with Australia who would control tho ships? Would tliero bo a divided control? In tho event of an AustralianNew Zealand combination, they could bid good-bye, savo for calling purposos, to any base so fares' Now"Zealand was concerned. Ho believed that tho futuro preservation of this country depended upon the futuro preservation of the British Isles. Anything that New Zealand oould do alone would bo futile.