THE PRIME MINISTER.

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

THE PRIME MINISTER.

ANY PARTNERSHIP DENIED. REPEATED ASSURANCES. The Hon. W. F. MASSIiY (Primo Minister) said tho member for Awarua had omitted to stato that tho Government had given a promiso that this session, and long beforo the end of tho session tho House would havo ail opportunity of discussing t'lio Government's proposals. It soomed that tho member tor Awarua had been premature, but lie (Mr. Massey) was glad now that the debate had occurrod. It 'had given the Minister for Defenco an opportunity of clearing up many misconceptions. He agreed that there should be no party on questions of defence, but tlie "last speaker had gono dangerously near to introducing party strife into his speech. In reply to tho hint of. tsho lion, gentleman that Mr. Allen's policy might strain the allegianco of our people to tho British flag, ho could say that tlioro was 110 moro patriotic man in New Zealand, and no : inoro patriotic subject of tho British Empire than tho present Minister for Defence. No man in Now Zealand had given more freoly of' his time, his enorgy, his capital, and his ability to assist in the defence of this country than the Hon. James Alien. Going Alone. New Zealand had been committed to nothing by tho Dofenco Minister in London.' The member for Avon had said that we should under tho protection of the British Navy until wo could "go alone." What did that mean ? Mr. Hanan (repeatedly): Very unfair. You know what ho meant.

Mr. Massey said that when ho heard those words ho was reminded of the saying of a great Canadian statesman —that ho wad born under the British flag, that ho had lived under the British flag, and that ho would die under tho British flag. The same sentiment, ho believed, was in tho minds of the great majority of the peoplo of this country. There had never, ho said, been any idea in the mind of the present Government to enter into partnership with Australia. Nor had we, as tho member for Awarua had feared, any idea of lotting go our protection of the Imperial Navy. At the present moment there was on its way to New Zealand a ■ communication from tho Imperial authorities which ho hoped would bo filial and conclusive and acceptable to this country, and which would enable tho Government to submit their iproposals to Parliament. Until this communication arrived ,• the Government could not take the House into full confidence.

The 1909 Agreement. Members might have forgotten jvhafc tho arrangement entered ilito in 1909 was. Tho effect of it was that tho battle cruisor New Zealand was to bo stationed on the China squadron, with tho central base at Hong-Kong, and a sub-base at Auckland. Tho strength of. the China squadron and the section of it to have its headquarters at Auckland woro defined, and wo were to pay a contribution of £100,000 and interest and sinking fund on the battle-cruiser, £150,000 a year. That arrangement had been definitely entered into, but what had become of it ? He did not wish to reflect upon the Imperial authorities. Ho certainly had no intention of doing so, but could we honestly say we wero doing our duty if wo allowed tho present stato of things to continuo after tho agreement entered into in 1909? Where were tho ships? They simply did not exist. What protection had we for our ports, our coasts, and our trado routes? Ho believed in the Imperial Navy, but as at present disposed it; did not afford us tho protection to which wo were entilled. No Ship-Building. Now Zealand had, however, no intention of EfoinFi in for n, procißUime of jsliiß-building. Ho agreed .with tho Im-_

pcrinl policy of keeping a fleet in tho North Sea strong enough for any combination of enemies likely to como alone, but tho position in tho Pacific was not what it was in tho North Sea. Japan liad a strong Navy which sho was strengthening annually, a stronger navy than America. Was Japan building and keeping thoso ships for toys? 110 did not say wo could build a fleet strong enough to meet in battle tho Japanese fleet, but wo should provido for tho defence of our shores. "I shall nevor bo satisfied," ho said, "until I soo a fleet, and a British fleet, in tho l'aciflc, whether it be inado up of ships from Canada, ships from Australia, ships from New Zealand, or British ships, or all pooled. I shall never be satisfied until I see a British fleet in the Pacific under 0110 Imperial control, fit to hold its own against any enemy or combination of enemies likely to como along." Ho added, in conclusion, that 111 view of our insular position, and tho fact that New Zealanders should bo a maritime nation, part of our contribution to naval defenco should bo to ■ train our young men for tho Imperial Navy.

Air. G. TV, RUSSELL, in personal explanation, assured the House that his statement about "going alono" as part of tho future policy of Now Zealand had been a mere slip of the tongue, and did Hot oxpress his settled conviction. Last Defence Minister. Mr. A. M. MYERS Auckland East) agreed that tho all-important question of naval defenco ought not to bo considered from a party standpoint, but members of tho othor side, not tho Minister tor Defence, had not beon entirely blameless in regard to the raising of tho party-issue. Tho Minister for Defence was quite right in his opiniofi*iliat events of later years had justified tho reviewing of tho old view, that tho Navy could bo relied upon to protect us. Now British supremacy even in tho North Sea was questioned, and tho Fleet had lost its former mobility in consequence. But tho Minister had not taken the Houso fully into his confidence, and it was only through tho member for Awarua having brought up tho matter that the House had learned a little of what wore tho Government's views. Ho advised tho Government to set up a Defence Committee, so that some monibcrs of the Houso might share the confidences of the Government 'on important policy matters. Some Labour Members. ' Mr. J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) compared tho caso of New Zealand trying to forco itself into tlic councils of tho Admiralty to that of a mosquito and a camel. Mr. G.. WIT'IT (Riccarton) said that it woul dbo ridiculous to'fear a naval attack in this part of tho world. At tho timo when tho Dreadnought was presented, ho contended tho limpifo was on the brink of war and tho gift had dono a groit deal to avert tho war. Ho asked tho Minister for Defenco what ho had really said in Canada.. Mr. P. C. WEBB (Grey) assailed tho land defenco system of the Dominion, which ho deslribed as conscription. He stated that lads detained on Ripa Island wero being persecuted. Also lie said that married men had been taken from _ tho West Coast t<> be. dotained on Ripa Island. Ono young man, only a few months married, had been.taken to Ripa Island from Blackball to undergo detention for twenty-oight days, his wife being left to subsist meanwhile'on charity. At tho same tim'o thousands throughout tho country wero allowed to go froo. '

Mr. T. BUXTON (Temuka) said that what ho had lioard that night from tliti Prime Minister and tho Minister for Defence seemed to him to be in conflict with what, lio had, heard from present Ministers Mien! they 1 wero. in Opposition. In 1909 Mr. Hcrries and Mr. Allen had declared themselves in favour of tho establishment of an Australasian naval unit under local control.

A Socialistic Prinolple. Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wanganui) defended the land dcfcnco system. Ho agreed, Oio said l , that some of tlioso who opposed the defcnco system would fight bravely if tho need arose, but if they fought without previous training they would bo a dangor to themselves and everybody else. Was there no compulsion forcing men into.the British Army? Thcro was the compulsion of hunger. As against this ho preferred the Socialistic principle of oompc-lling every citizeiij be ho .rich or poor, to take his share in the defence of his country. , Tho last speaker in tho debate was Mr. C. Parata (Southern Maori), who spoke only of certain Nativo leases in the town, of Grcymouth. Tlho Bill passed at 0.15 a.m., and the House roso immediately afterwards.