NEW ZEALAND AND THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2885, 25 September 1916, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND AND THE NAVY

1 OUR FUTURE POLICY HON. JAMES ALLEN'S VIEW By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, September 24. Replying, to a deputation of yachtsmen .yesterday regarding tho Motor Patrol Roserve, tho Minister of Defence said that there must be developments in New Zealand in relation to naval matters in the future, otherwiso he would riot remain in tho Cabinet. Interviewed subsequently, Mr. AllensaidHhat personally he did not believe in a money contribution to the Imperial Navy. The Dominion'should take its own share in tho creation of such by providing its own units, in which NW Zcalanders might serve. It was never- intended that there should be a local navy, but a New Zealand unit of the Royal Navy. As regards the Military .Service Boards, the Minister said that the principles upon which thoy would operate would be laid down by a meeting,of tiie chairmen of the respective boards, who would also confer if difficulties arose in the administration of the Act. The great principle, howover, should bo / uniformity of judgment, so that men would not bo treated harshly iii'ono district and lightly in another. Questioned regarding the discharge of soldiers after the war, Mr. Allen said that the return and discharge of New Zealand troops would bo gradual. He did not think there would, be any flooding of the Labour markct.X There 1 would ho no extension of time for enrolment in the Reserve, and shirkers would be prosecuted without further warning.