FLEET CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 5

FLEET CONTROL

ADMIRAL OR NAVAL BOARD? FEDERAL NAVY SHIPS, RIGHTS OF TEqTexEOUTIVE. The announcement of the New Zealand Government's . naval policy this week lends some interest to a discussion on "fleet control," which took place in the Federal House of Representatives last week. Senator Pearco, who held the portfolio of Defej&a in the Labour Government which went out of office as tho result of tho last Federal election, referred to the attitude of tho Minister of Defence (Senator Millen), in regard to the distribution of the ships of tho fleet. Mr. Pearce's remarks, by the way, wore evoked by' the published statement that Rear-Ad-miral Sir George Patey had preferred to take the fleet,out for training rather than to Melbourne for festivities, and that tho Minister had assented.. _" One of tho principles on which tho disposition of the ships of tho navy is dealt with in the Mother Country is that the ' oxecutive is master of the situation," said Mr. Pearce. " The navy is a powerful factor in international politics, and unless the executive retains and not morely passive—control 'in its hands of ' the .disposition ..oL.tho-, ships a momentary alteration of tho disposition of the fleet might at any time involve the nation in war. Assuming that wo give the admiral in charge of the fleet the die-; position of tho ships, let us consider what might happen. A situation might arise from which there might be strained relations between Great Britain and Franco. The mere jplacing of our ships of war by the admiral in command in the vicinity of New Caledonia might bring about a conflict. It is the Government which decides where a- fleet shall go. What'has tho present Minister of Defence done? Ho has sot on one side the Naval Board. He will not give to that board the disposition of the ships, hut has delegated his power and the power of the board in this mattor to the admiral .in-command. The admiral in chief is the '.servant of tho Naval Board, and not ■ their master, and he should never.ho thought of as their master. There is a very important, reason for vhe observance of that rule, quite apart from the possibility of international complications. Tha.t reason is that, we charge the NavaJ Board with the responsibility of tho ad•ministration of the naval vote. Parliament places at tho disposal of the Naval Board certain money for providing coal, oil, and other stores necessary, to make tho fleet effective,, and tho wages also must bo paid. If the Naval Board is to be held responsible for the expenditure of that money, obviously the board has tho disposition of the ships, and how, and when that money is to bo spent. There is in this matter a very important principle at stake, and I advise the Minister to reflect on what he has done. Above and over everything in naval and military affairs we must assert the predominance of the civil power—we must keep tho ) civil power on top.

Senator Millon, m reply, said: "I fully recognise the'importance of the question, concerning which Bomo. niisappre* hension appears to have arison in tho minds of Senator Pcarco and others, as to who should be the controlling authority with regard to tho fleet. That misapprehension,appears to have arisen because of a statement I made, or which I am alleged to havo made, in the course of a newspaper interview. I say at once, however, that I recognise the importance of that question. It is not a matter which is to bo lightly considered or debated. It does strike at sonio vory important and deep principles, and I uhould bo ofio of the last to attempt to violate the principle that tho civil power, in a country like this, must predominate. There has been a good deal of misapprehension as to what I, said on this question. In reading anything which was said in tho newspaper paragraph the fact must not be overlooked that my statement had reference to tho question as to whether tho Australia and other yessels wore to bo ordered around to Melbourne in order to bo present at the coming festivities. I had that fact in my mind when I stated that the Admiral had indicated quite frankly his omphatio desire to got to work at once, and that, if ho thought it right to avoid any further festivities, I should not stand in his.way. I do not mind repeating that statement now. "If tho Admiral in charge of tho fleet makes recommendations that, for tho sea-training of his forces, it is desirable to allcw him to placo his ships where ho can train -his men in battle-action, it would bo little short of a criminal act if I, as Minister, attempted to interfere. Tho course I proposo to take up is not to yield any of tho power which must vest in tho oxeeutivo as to tho final power of direction as to what is to bo done with thoso ships. Nothing this Ministry could do would dispossess it of that power. It might refrain from exercising that powi'r perhaps, but nothing it could do would dispossess it of tho power. What I want . to make clear, however, is, that when tho Admiral, whoso duty it is to train Id's men to a high state of efficiency, puts forward a proposal which will en- . iblo him to exercise his crows, tho Minster who would turn down his sugges- j :ion without a particularly good caiiso vould take upon himself, ami havo to ■ ipoflot, b yoxy fiorioun rogpotuibility in- I ;