OUR NAVAL POLICY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1893, 30 October 1913, Page 5

OUR NAVAL POLICY

NAVY LEAGUE APPROVAL. (Br Teleeranli.—Press Association.) Christohurch, October 29. "I ani very glad to see," said Mr. J. J. Dougall, president of the Canterbury branch of the -Navy League, to a reporter this morning, "that the Government, in its naval .proposals, has adopted the principle of providing men as well as money. It was becoming increasing evident that New Zealand would have to alter its policy of paying a mere subsidy for its protection, and cither adopt the Australian plant of founding a navy of its own, or make some arrangement with the Admiralty by which New Zealanders could become an integral part of the Royal Navy. I can't conceive of the idea of an independent New Zealander paying anybody for protection, without doing something on his own behalf. The policy enunciated is a beginning, but I hope only a beginning in the direction of New Zealand assuming her own naval defence in .very much the same way as she now takes on laud defence. "While it is "quito true that the real defence of the Empire is in the North Sea it is equally true that the various British Dominions throughout tho world must ,!jo provided with protection for their trade, and tho trade routes must be kept open between the Mother Country and distant possessions. There is also tho policing of the seas, particularly the Pacific."