NO DISAGREEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1992, 24 February 1914, Page 4

NO DISAGREEMENT.

The idea that a disagreement exists between the New Zealand Government and fchc_ Admiralty regarding the change in tho Uowiinieh's naval policy is based on a complete misapprehension ,of ihe time position, Whatever diffoivjice of opinion may have taken plttce arose some time. ag» owing to'Hiri failure of the Jrimcml authorities to .sparry out their purt of the agreement made with the New Zealand UnrcnNuent ili 1909, when Sift JoSBPJf Waumviis Premier. Kverylhitig ' is worKlng smoothly now. Since the present Government hasi been in . office, the relations between New Zealand and tKo Admiralty, hare been of a got-

' fectly harmonious character. When the Hon. J, Aijjjn went Home last year he was informed by the imperial authorities that the position had changed so materially since IMS that it was not considered advisable, to carry out the terras of the arrangement entered into in that year, and the new policy sanctioned by the New Zealand Parliament during ksi session was the result of the consultation between the. Minister and the Admiralty. The- Imperial authorities know* exactly what is being done by the Dominions and they ate ao-ftperTitiHg in the moss friendly way with the object of giving the new scheme a good start. Of course, as the London Times points out. the ultimate aim is to ''provide adequate defence for the Pacific," but what is being done in tins direction is not the result of any disagreement with the- Admiralty, but with its full knowledge, advice* and sympathy. _ The great importance of strengthening British sea-power outside of European waters is shown by the recent debate in the German Parliament, irj. tli<S course of which AdMJrai; von TißP'itz welcomed the suggestion that the Qerm&ft fleet should be tjUQm strongly represented This statement becomes the more significant in.view of the recent policy of concentrating British naval strength in the neighbourhood of the United Kingdom. The result must be that in years' to come the Overseas Dominions will havo to take a larger share of responsibility for the defence oi tte Pacific, and it is this that Australia and New Zea : land are preparing for by their new naval arrangements..; ; Th6 discussion' in the Reichstag certainly gave no encoureigettent whatever to the dreams.of a naval holiday/ which Mr> LkDY'D George and'. his friends are continually indulging, in, for there Was no talk of slowing down in the matter of building warships. On the contrary, it was made quite clear •th.lt Germany's, "aim in the next few years nntst be, within the framework of the' naval law, to attain the necessary strength for foreign service." This, of CQ.urse f me-ans a_ pdicy of full speed ahead., ■and Britain cannot afford to lag behind in the. race. It is the business of the. Empire to ddend the Empire, and Sew Zealand must be prepared to dt> its part.. In a matter of sne'h vital'impor'ta.n'ce, it is satis* factory to know that there is no friction with the Home authorities, but that, as Mr. Auen states, "we are all agreed, and are working together in h-armony."