The Dominion. THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1919. NEW ZEALAND AND THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 285, 28 August 1919, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1919. NEW ZEALAND AND THE NAVY

Broad issues of naval policy as they concern this country were dealt with in a particularly direct and outspoken way by Admiral Jellicoe in the statement to a New Zealand Navy League deputation which is reported to-day. Indeed, although ho disavowed any intention of anticipating his official report, he left little room for doubt- as to tlie lines that document will follow. On the central question raised, the Admiral offers precisely the advice that might have been expected. He urged that New Zealand ought to contribute to the strength of the Imperial Navy on a scale proportioned to its population and seaborne trade. In that- elementary proposition the people of this country are bound to acquicscc. The maintenance of an .adequate naval force is a vital condition of our future security, and it is . inconsistent cither with commpn sense or self-respect that we should expect to perpetuate our present dependence on the British taxpayer. Any reluctance to meet the cost of adequate naval defence must fall to the ground in face of concrete facts and needs which are in no way to bo escaped or evaded. As definitely as in the case of Britain herself our security and prosperity are 'dependent upon the maintenance of open sea routes—upon that ability to use the sea which,: as Lord JeliiicoE has said, is the best definition of sea-powcr. The naval problem set before this country is simply that of organising under the best conditions possible a form of protection 'ivhich is absolutely indisr, pensable. So far .as the main issue is : concerned the only question raised that is. any way open to debate is the amount' of naval force the Empire must maintain to make itself secure. This will be a matter of adjustment from time to time, but at the present stage New Zoaland obviously cannot do better than aocept tho advice of one of the foremost naval experts of the age. As far as can be judged from the facts and .figures he cited in addressing the .Navy League, Lord Jel&icoe's views are marked by moderation. He .pointed out that before the war the people of the United Kingdom were contributing approximately £l per head for naval defence and expressed an that it wou'd be necessary to continue this scale of expenditure. This would mean annual naval'estimates' of about £45,000,000 in Great Britain, and Lord Jellicoe advocated the same contribution per head of population (presumably white population) by the Dominions. With a white population of some nineteen millions the Dominions would thus provide an additional annual contribution of .about £19,000,000 for naval dcfencc. The total _ provision contemplated for tho British Navy and Dominion units at first_ sight appears unduly large, but this view must be modified when account is taken of , the considerable increases lately made in naval pay and tlje increased cost of naval construction and of material and supplies. Indeed, it seems likely that tho Navy maintained by the whole Empire on the basis suggested by Lord Jellicoe would be if anything inferior in strength to the pre-war British fleet and the Australian squadron. It is true that India as well as the self-gov-erning Dominions is expected to contribute to the strength of the Imperial 'Navy, but on the other hand it is unlikely that South .Africa would be able to make tho same contribution per head as other Dominions. Certainly there is no suggestion in Lord Jellicoe's figures of any attempt to organise a world-dominating fleet of overwhelming strength, and it is possible as time passes, if the League of Nations develops on practical lines, as all must hope it will do, there will be a limitation of armaments which will enable that strength to be materially reduced. But in the. meantime we must face facts as they are. At an immediate view a proposal that this country should spend something over a million on naval defence is somewhat staggering. At present New Zealand is paying a subsidy of £100,000 a year "to the British .Navy and the cost of the battle-cruiser New Zealand is tho only important, addition that has hcen made to this contribution, But the contrast between what we have contributed in the past and arc called upon to contribute in the future exists only because our position in relation to the British Navy has been hitherto one of dependence as distinct from the independent and self-reliant partnership only to be attained by contributing to the strength of the Navy in proportion to our population and trade. It has to be borne in mind also that of all forms of defcnce naval defence is most vital to the security of this country, and that it' has every possible claim to be considered first instead/ of last as has been the rule hitherto

One valuable result of Lord. Jcllicoe's observations to the Navy League ought to be to eliminate some detail grounds of difference, which threatened to arise in the determination of a naval policy for the Dominion. The chief line of cleavage lias been between those who advocate the development of the local squadron provided for in the Act of 1013, and those who favour contribution _to the British .Navy. As-the position is stated by Lord Jellicoe very. little scope is left for disputation on these lines. He observes, it is true, that Now Zealand's contribution may be made either in money or kind. His further remarks show that he takes the formation of a New Zealand unit, officered and manned as far as pos-

sible by Now Zealanders, pvacticallj' as a matter of course, out the grounds of inference between the two schools of opinion mentioned are narrowed to a minimum by his evidently weighty contention that it would be utterly incompatible with efficiency to regard and control a local naval unit from any narrow or parochial standpoint. Unless [ho observed] either the ships oliango about ami get into big fleets, or the officers and men do, they cannot become efficient. You cannot make a navy out of a fow 6hips. The better way, the Admiral further stated, was for the officers and men to go into other ships. Under such a system of oicbarge, though Lord Jellicojj did not raise the point, some difficulty might arise in regard to different rates of pay, but this no doubt could bo overcome. Presumably the general view in this country, equally with -those who uphold and those who oppose what has been called a local navy, is that the Dominion ought to contribute men as well as money. This being so Lord Jellico'e's lucid presentation of essentials ought to do much to promote unity of opinion in regard to naval policy. He suggests that the existence of Dominion naval units would make for a healthy spirit of _ rivalry. At the same time he insists, and, of course, with the utmost authority, that such units can only be efficient as an integral part of th" Imperial naval organisation. There is here a very obvious basis for complete agreement between those who have been inclined to adopt divergent views._ In its total effect the Admiral's statement is a stimulating appeal to the .people of this country to take up their full responsibilities where the Navy to which they owe so much is concerned.