NAVAL LEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2013, 21 March 1914, Page 6

NAVAL LEFENCE.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. BRISTOL CRUISER TO BE BUJLT. (By Telegraph— Special Correspondent.) Greymouth, March 20. ' Speaking at Greymouth to-night to a remarkably largo and enthusiastic audienco of somo 1500 people, tho Primo Minister. (the. Right. Hon. W. T. Massey) mado an important statement upon naval'defcnco in connection with the speech mado by Mr. Winston Churchill, in the House 1 of Commons upon tho Naval Estimates. Mr. Churchill, in his statement as cabled, stated that tho alliance between . England and Japan secured tho safety ■'. of 'Australia and Now Zealand. "A statement like that," commented Mr. Massey, "does not appeal to me. It ■ is ambiguous," and I do not quito know what it means.. I,do not want to do Churchill any injustice,. but if he > means that'tho pcoplo of. Australia and Now Zealand (for tho latter of whom I am speaking) "aro to be satisfied,with the protection afforded by Japanese ships and Japanese sailors, then',Mr. "Winston Churchill is very much mistaken. Ido not beliove for ono moment that, tho Anglo-Japanese Alliance /has secured the safety of-either Australia'or Now Zealand. Ido not' think so for ono moment, and it is just •as well for Mr. Churchill to knowthat." This statement was mado in the course of a recital of tho negotiations upon the subject of naval, defence which/had taken placo -between Now Zealand and the Imperial Parliament. Mr. Massey outlined all that had been dono down ;'to ,tho point of where tho New Zealand Government said that if the' English' Government was unable to follow out its agreement and supply New.Zealand with two Bristol cruisers, then New Zealand would build one for herself. Britain' had said she was unable, to do this, and "that is still the position at tho moment,"'Said Mr. Massey. "Wo therefore intend," ho continued)' "to ask Parliament at the earliest possible moment to authorise the building of a Bristol cruiser to protect our harbours and trade routes. .(Applause.) The Cost of tho Cruiser. "The cost of the cruiser would be * £400,000, and tho upkeep might bo about £90,000, but not mpre. This would be the outside- lim'it for the cost of tho cruiser, to Now Zealand in spite of' many, wild statements made to tho contrary. The £50,000 of the Imperial subsidy of £100,000 which remained after_ the allowance of £50,000 for the training ship would be applied. The extra cost to New Zealand would be only £40,000 a year. Sir Joseph Ward . asserted that the Government's pro-' pcsals would lead to extravagant expenditure, but ho (Sir Joseph Ward) had in London proposed, that the colonies should bo taxed 10s. a head for naval dependence. That would mean : £1)20,000 a year for New. Zealand, and tho people could see what was the most • extravagant. Ho (Mr. Massey) believed that the best policy was for the Dominion to prepare its own ships. The time would como when tho Pacific would' be a storm centre,. and the Anglo-Saxons would havo to fight as their forefathers • had. Australia was preparing, and Canada amV South Africa would also havo to clo it. At any >ato Now Zea'lund must look forward l to the time when thero would be a British Navy in tho. Pacific ready to cope with any foe, that camo along." (Loud applause.)