OUR BATTLESHIP

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 7

OUR BATTLESHIP

INSPECTION OF THE NEW ZEALAND AN INDICATION TO ENVIOUS RIVALS NAVY SHOULD BE EQUAL TO ANfl CHALLENGE. By, Telejriteh.— Prew Attool*tlon.~ copyright. February S, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 4th February. Speaking at the gathering of New! Zealanders to inspect the battleship New Zealand at Portsmouth, the Hon.. Thomas Mackenzie, New Zealand's High' Commissioner, Baid that he wan proud that he had been a member of Sin Joseph Ward's Government. The coatof'&rms might be taken to typify Drake's Revenge, Alison's Cetiturlon, tind Halsey's New Zealand. Whereas the former were buccaneers, Captain Hal« sey's mißßion would bo one of peace and goodwill. They were proud New, Zealand was the first to make a definite offer. Australia quickly followed, then Canada ahd Malay. Ho was Bure that* South Africa, India, and other British oversea dependencies would do their part. The New Zealand's voyage, ho said, would be a great demonstration, as it showed that England, by trusting tha overseas Dominions by giving them the ,po\ver of self-government and the privi* lege of working out their own destinies, received the overseas Dominions' fepon* taneous support ; whereas when it attempted to fbrce the United States to contribute to its defence it lost its possession of that country. ' ' The voyage was also an indication to Britain's envious rivals that the Mother Country would not be threatened or menaced without them having to reckon with her daughter States ; for the words "hands off > would come from the cannon's mouth. Oh behalf of Britain's daugb> ters New Zealand typified the power ofi the Empire over the sea, , New Zealand ,and the other Dominions were exceedingly anxious that the Navy o{ the Empire should be equal to any challenge. They realised that m past times the dependencies were constantly exchanged to meet the exigencies of war settlement, but they did not now wish to become pawns on, the chessboard. DETERMINED TO KEEP THE- FLAG FLYING. The Hon. James Allen said that if the Mother Country weeded more assistance New Zealand would give it. She was determined to keep the flag flying on the seaß the world over. They were anxious that the Pacific should be as safe as the Atlantic and the North Sea. He hoped the colonies in the Pacific would put their heads together and ensure that safety. New Zealand would not be satisfied until there were more ships and more New j Zealand bluejackets. He considered it an insufficient sacrifice to give material only to the Empire's needs. They must also give the men, who would be forthcoming when they could afford it, • THE KING'S INSPECTION, OF A SEMI-PRIVATE NATURE (Received February 5, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON. 4th February. As it will be Ash Wednesday, the in« fepeetion by His Majesty the King of the battleship New Zealand will be semi' private. There will be no guards honour, and only one reporter and one photographer. I MR. ALLEN'S REFERENCE WAS TO ■ VOLUNTEERS. ' (IT TELEOBAPH— SfKJJAt TO TBS POM.) OHRISTCHURCH. This Day. Interviewed at Christchui'ch last night with regard to the Hon. James Allen's reference in England to an expeditionary force, Major-General Godley Bftid that tho Minister's reference was to volunteers. The position was set out perfectly clearly in the Apt, and there was never a suggestion that fttoy member of the Defence Force should go abroad except aB a volunteer.