NAVAL DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2305, 12 November 1914, Page 6

NAVAL DEFENCE

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph.—Frew Association.) Pukekohe, November 11. The question-of the naval defence of the Pacific was referred to by the Prime Minister in his address this evening. Ho expressed his hearty agreement with the sentiment which prompted the large audience, before his address began, to give three cheers for the . Sydney, tho people. of Australia, and New Zealand.

Mr. Massoy said they could congratulate themselves on the fact that the Emden. which had been the terror of the Indian Ocean for such a long time, had at last been smashed up, and by a vessel of tho Australian Navy. (Applause.) This event added yet another laurel to those previously won by. the' Australian Navy. He would bo .glad if the same fate as had befallen the Emden' befel the Scharnhurst and Gneisenau, and he believed their'turn would soon come. So far as' this country was concerned, he did not think' that we need any longer apprehend any danger from the enemy's snippin". The experience of the past few weeks, however.'should be a lesson to the people of the South Pacific. Had it not been for the protection of the Australian Navy, he was afraid to think of what might havo happened. Wo countries bordering' on the Pacific should combine in providing a Pacific Fleet. Theso seas were British seas, and we should kqop them British for all time. (Applause.) ■ . Mr. Masseysaid that there'was a good deal of uneasiness in regard to the presence of Germans in New Zealand,- and also upon the subject of wireless installations. In regard to the latter, he pointed out that no private wireless plant could send out any messages without them being picked up by the Government stations. They might receive mes's'ages, but these could.not be nrade use Of without they were posted beyond the Dominion, and' this was guarded against by the strict censorship that had been established. As to the'Germsiris in New Zealand, some of them were satisfied to live and die under the Union. Jack, but a large proportion were sympathisers with their countrymen. ' These people required watching, -and they were being watched, There were probably 10,000 German subjects in Now Zealand.' If any of these, or a member of any other nationality, was discovered giving information to tlie enemy wheh might be used to any detriment, he would be handed over lor trial to the Military Court. If he were found-guilty tho punishment would be- iii accordance with the offenco, and he did not need to tell them what that , mw\ (Applause.)