THE DOMINIONS AND THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1969, 28 January 1914, Page 8

THE DOMINIONS AND THE NAVY.

NEW "ZEALAND'S POLICY.

STATEMENT BYjilt 'MYERS.

Mi\ F. A..M , Kciizie'writes-as follows in the London. f.'Daily Mail" :--•

The Now Zealand, tho Dreadnought presented by the southern l)ominion°to the Navy, lias just returned, liome after a triumphant journey round tho Empire, . Kvorywhere, from Santiago to Sydney and from Vancouver to Capo Town, she has been enthusiastically welcomed, and everywhere regarded as a pledge of imperial unity. Even while she was completing the last miles of her 45,000-mile voyage tho, land that paid for her adopted a newnaval policy which makes the gift of Dreadnoughts a thing of the past. New Zealand this month determined to coroo into'line with' Australia,, and, in place of supporting tho British Navy by gifts of money or ships, to have a navy of her otvn. What'.does this-new departure ]wtend? ■■' '.

llicro is one man in London at present especially qualified to explain the development. 3lr. Arthur Myers was Minister of Finance and Defence in the last New Zealand Cabinet. Ho is'still a member of tho Now Zealand Legislature, sitting on the front Opposition benches, and is head of alftrge business. He talk 3 as a thinker and with knowledge. To him,, therefore, I went for an expression of opinion.

"The decision of New Zealand to have a. navy of her own is not a step backward, but a step forward in imperial development," said j\lr. Myers. "It certainly means no slackening-in loyalty and no desire to escape o\n- share of the burdens of Empire. On the contrary we are- placing greater burdens on our own shoulders. In place of 'contenting. our,solves wstii the easier and cheaper plan of senrliing a. contribution to the British Admiralty wo are making onrselros responsible for our cwn sliips. NonZealand, in the days when its peonle aro few, is laying aright the foundations for the only .possible permanent ijdHc';for tho years, ahead, half a century hence, when our population shall equal that of England herself.

"When,-in 1909, New Zealand offered a Dreadnought to the Empire it was..on the understanding that this ship should fonn part of tlio China Squadron and should "visit New Zealand' waters every year. Wo anticipated the «oming of a remodelled Pacific Fleet in which New Zealand, Australia, and Canada should each he specifically represented —a fleet which would in time bo strong enough to meet' any demands made on it. ' This agreement has' not been- carried out. For reasons of naval strategy which cv-eryjono knows, tho Admiralty resolved to centre its strength around tho North Sea, and tlie New Zealand is to form part of a Gibraltar Squ'adron. Tho Mackenzie Government, fully concurring (recognising that tho circumstances demanded agreed that tho battle-cruiser should bo placed in whatever position tho Admiralty miglit determine. "Tho effect of this on Now Zealand itself is that to-day wo find ourselves having to rely for naval protection on a Power which is now bonndto England by a, 'treaty of ■ nllianco but which may become iii time by'a turn in events not a protection but a menace. .We are not content to leave our protection in the hands of the Japanese Fleet, Therefor© we haw. resolved to make a start in having a navy of our own, under onr own control, manned by our own peoplo, and in'time, we hope, built in our own yards. Prudent statesmanship requires,that 'tho , international"nossibihttos of, say, twenty years ' hence shall bo anticipated as far as hmnan political foresight permits. t "We can only make a. small beginning. A nation of ono million cannot starve by manning Dreadnoughts. We shall probably work in harmony with Australia. Naturally this now "growth of Dominion navies will bo carried out on a common system for tho whole Em. pire. Just as our land forces are trained, armed, and officered after one Imperial system, making them a unit in hmpiro defence, so, we liopc, will our navy k>. Thero will naturally be an •mtorebange of officers with tho British Navy, our weapons and ammunition will be of the same type,' our training, tirill, and discipline will be the universal training, drill and discipline of the Empire ships. In short, there will bo a hew Zealand unit of Imperial naval defence, for which we make ourselves responsible and for which we pay. "If Now Zealand were likely to 'cut tho painter, , then possibly tliis policy of a navy of her own 'mi-git be dangerous Btit, does anyone regard this as possibleP If so, ho does not know New Zo.iland. People at Home must recognise, that, while there is a- growing desire on the part of the Dominions to assume their share of tho burden of Imperial defence, there ia a growing feeling against placing all the respond ability, the power, and the work in the lianas of tho authorities in London, rou can best ensure, the permanent cooperation of the Dominions by basing it on national sentiment.

"Tho Pacific will in thp ftttnro be the straining point of world peace, as tho North Sfa is now. It is for us memMrs of the Empire in the Pacific to soo to tt that wo are prepared to meet whatever.may arise. That is what we desire to do. Our action will help tho naval position of the whole Empire."