NAVAL POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 5

NAVAL POLICY.

STATEMENT ON TUESDAY. A BILL PROMISED. Thowt was some discussion on the subject of naval policy during tho debate on the Imprest Supply Bill m the House of Representatives. Sir Joseph Ward asked when the naval policy statement was to be exP< tlio''Prime Minister: Neoct Tuesday. Ho replied to another question that there would be a Bill. Sir J. Ward; I am very glad l to hear that. Ho added that he hoped naval defence would' not bo made a party question in this country. The Primo Minister: I hopo not. Sir J. Ward Baid he hoped they were not going to have proposals that would cause a split in opinion in tlii3 country similar to that which had ocourred in Canada. He went on to express tho opinion that there must bo a great division of opinion in tho Cabinet on tho anbieot of naval policy. Mr. Allen! You don't know that there is any difference of opinion in Cabinet.. „ , , Sir J. Ward said that he did know •that the honourable gentleman had come out five months ago with important proposals which had not yet seen the light of day. If they could have unanimity of action in regard to naval defence it would be a fine thing for this country. Tho.Primo Minister said 1 that 'bir Joseph Ward had made a statement he was not warranted in making, and one that was not oorreot. He had said that thero was a difference of opinion in tho Cabinet and amongst the members of the Government in regard to tlie naval policy. "Ut mo assure him," said Mr. Massey, "that there is no difference of opinion in regard to the naval proposals or tho naval policy. _Wo aro all of one opinion, and that opinion will bo submitted next Tuesday." He thought, ho added', that it would have been very much better if Sir Joseph Ward had waited till then before ; making his romarks. Ho agreed with the. Hon. gentleman that defence, whether Imperial or local, should not bo made a party question, and he that when their proposals wero submitted no attempt would be mado to manufacture party capital out of them. They had seen v.'hat had unfortunately taken place in another Dominion, and ho hoped that the experience would not bo repeated ill Now Zealand. At ono time tho Government • thought that a Bill would not be necossary, but the latest information showed that' it was necessary to have legislation to give effect to ono part of the proposals. A Bill would be introduced in duo course, and thero would bo no difference of opinion when it oame along. It had to bo remembered, continued Mr. Massey, that it took two parties to make an agreement. In this case there was the Imperial Government on one hand and tho Now Zealand Gdvornment on the other, and the difficulty was mado all tho greater when tho two parties were some 14,000 or 15,000 miles apart. Thoy had had to enter into correspondence or resort to cable communications, and this had occasioned a good deal or difficulty in coming to an agreement. The hqn. mombors qught to know this. Ho would not go into details, 1 but if members would think of what had taken placo in connection with and Binco tho 1909 agreement, they would understand that thero wero reasons for disagreement on some points—perhaps of not very great importance—but still, there wero points or difference, whicn had caused the delay that had taken place. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) made a long speech, in tho courso of which ho opposed tho setting up of a local navy. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurtinui) said that it was reported that the Government party had met behind closed doors to evolve a naval policy for this country. Tho Hon. Jas. Allen: That is absolutely incorrect. Other members of the Reform Party echoed the statement.