OUR NAVAL POLICY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2208, 22 July 1914, Page 8

OUR NAVAL POLICY

FARMERS AND.THE FLEET A CALL TO THE COUNTRY An interesting address 011 the subject of tie naval defence of New Zealand was delivered at tlio Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' TJnion yesterday by Mr. J. G. Wilson. Mr. Wilson said that the subject was of tlio most vital, importance to farmers. "I would remind you," he said, "that about ten years ago at Wniiganui, the conference passed a resolution asking that tlio Government sliould inorease our yearly payments to tlio Britisli Government from £20,000 to f £40,000 011 account of the protec. t-ion afforded to us by tlio Britisli Navy. I remember when it came before the Dominion Conference. Mr. M'Queen then, said it was far too littlo; but the Government of tlio' day paid the £40,000. Later, Mr. M'Queen moved at the Dominion Conferonco that the contribution should be raised to £100,000, and again the Government of the day agreed to do so. Even then Mr. M'Queen said —and I think truly said—that this sum was altogether inadequate for the benefits wo received from the Mother Country.

The Agreement of 1909. "In 1909 Sir Joseph Ward entered into an agreement with the British Government that certain vessels should be stationed here. International developments 'however took place; Britain had slackened 111 her ouilding of war vessels, whilst Germany and other Powers had increased theirs. The supremacy of the seas was threatened and people became alarmed. Just at that moment, Sir Joseph Ward, as Prime Minister, very Tightly I think, offered a battleship to the Mother Country, which was accepted. That very action however• showed tjiat'if'there was necessity for the Dominion to contribute a war vessel to the Navy, it meant that Britain had not onough vessels of her own to maintain supremacy in the North Sea, and the Mediterranean. How, then, could she carry out the 1909 agreement with us? She did rot, in spite of tho fact that there was a very much increased building of,-war vessels, when tho armed cruiser we had provided, and which it was agreed should bo flie flag ship in the China Seas, was available; tho. Admiralty asked that this might be changed and that the New Zealand should bo stationed in the North Sea. All, this emphasised the fact that the 1909 agreement was a dead lotter. '

Hon. <!. Allen's Mission. "Mr. Allen went Home. No doubt lii? tongue is tied as to what took place at the, discussion in London as .to the future naval policy. It is obvious, however, that the whole situation must have been discussed, and the secret British naval policy disclosed. Reading between tho lines' and from Mr. Churchill's speeches in connection with tho Canadian naval policy, lie, as head of the Admiralty, was not prepared to do anything more than send to us two somewhat" obsolete third-class cruisers. Aiiy . first-class cruisers were required in tho China seas where war vessels of other nationalities wero stationed to be rehdy for eventualities.. At the present moment we; are fortunately on better terms witlv Germany than wo, have been for .some time.- But whilst tliis absurd position - of , settling international-. disputes by force continues;- tho wasteful process goes on.which every national desires to put, a stop to, but which none will agree to.' Our-only insurance against war is to be prepared for it. While Britain is 'doing this, are we to remain doing nothing, or merely to continue a payment towards her navy for a sum which is a mere flea-bite of tho amount she is spending at the present moment? Personally, I do not hesitate to say that the .circumstances' being completely altered I have altered my opinion on this subject. We ought to make a progressive move. (Hear, hoar.)

Ths Navy and Politics. _ "Unfortunately party politics liavo ontered into the discussion. Metaphorically speaking, the Opposition is throwing 'a toy navy' at tho heads of tho Government, and some of the, Government supporters aro throwing 'Dreadnoughts' at their opponents. The ono man who may be said to bo uninfluenced (as far as I can judge) by party, who has spoken on tho subject (though, perhaps, somb havo been goaded into bringing the subject into the party arena) is Mr.. Myers. Ho has spoken on tho subject in London and is now in the Dominion; and iie.has'urged'tho Government to go on with theii\ policy at once. Thero arc, however, two reasons why I think we should pauso. Tho first is the fact that thcro. is to be. an Imperial Conference in 1915. It will be after our 'election, and probably after tho British' elections. That in itself would, not to my mind bo sufficient cause for delay, because ships- take a long timo to build, and wo might easily sell, as there often is traffic in war vessels. The more important reason is that wo are going through a transition stage in connection with naval warfare; submarines, wator-planes, airships, oil, •all' being factors. We, in New Zealand are particularly vulnerable from sea attack.

• A' Navy of Our Own. "An invasion of New Zealand, except from an Eastern' nation is not likely to occur owing to the distance from Europe; but with Britain at war with a European Power,"a single cruiser could do us incalculable damage. Wellington could bo shelled from off Island Bay, by comparatively small modern guns, and a; few bombs, from an airship might fall upon-a future Farmers' Conference sitting in this room; our trade routes would be made insecure. Surely our country is worth defending, how could we defend it if there were no warships,' and an enemy wero to descend upon us? AVe cannot merely depend upon tho -Mother Country, whoso position among'nations has secured the safety of trade, routes so long. Has the spirit of our forefathers not descended to us ? - Are wo for ever to 'wait and see' ? /

"This reminds me of another feature: The sailors. We are a sea-girt land, yet wo liave few sailors. . Around the shores of Great Britain every village, has its fishing boats and boys grow up eager to follow the—l cannot very well, say footsteps, or I shall be accused of mixing the metaphor—calling of their forefathers. When they are young and adventurous, t'hey gladly become meil-of-warsmcn, and despite tho fact that, the Germans thinly wo cannot man our navy, I have not the slightest doubt Britain can and frill. How can we ellcourage our youth so that they Will answer the call of the sea? It was delightful to see the enthusiasm of the children when the New Zealand came round our coasts. ■ A fleet of our own, however small, would soon create an answer to this call. It is a splendid training for any man whatever his profession or his trade is to he. Everyman in tlie country knows what a handy man a sailor is on the land, and 1 hope the conference.will come to a decision to urge Parliament to give whoovor is sent to the coming conference in London, authority to come to a conclusion with tho .British Government, and if r.ectl he give 'him authority to enter into a contract if tho decision is that we should fpllow Australia's lead and jjaave & iiav,v .it/ m " own."- (Applause.)