THE NEW ZEALAND INSPECTED BY THE KING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1913, Page 7

THE NEW ZEALAND INSPECTED BY THE KING

A REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING HIS MAJESTY GREATLY INTERESTED. ly Telegraph,— Prese AfaoolftUon.— Copyright. (Received February 6, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sth February. Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, X.C.8., Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, and Rear-Admiral Herbert Leopold Heatb, Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, received His Majesty the King on the occasion of his visit of inspection to the battleship New Zealand. His Majesty was accompanied by Sir Joseph Ward (Premier of New 'fiealand when the gift of the vessel was made), Hon. Thomas Mackenzie (High Commit aioner for New Zealand), Hon. James Allen (New Zealand Minister of Defence), Mr. Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), Mr. Lewis Harcourt (Secrc Ury of State for the Colonies), Mr. T. J. Macnamara (former Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty). Vice-Admiral Sh' Johh Rushworth Jelhcoe (commanding tho Second Squadron), Prince Loulb Alexander of Battenberg (personal aide-de-camp to the King and a Lord Oomnitt' sicker of the Admiralty), and others. The King devoted over an hour on a general tour of the ship, and was particularly interested in the barbette, where the crew operated the 12-inch guns and also the gyroscope compass. His Majesty was greatly amused at the decorations of the guri room, which somewhat resembled a lady's boudoir. Before leaving His Majesty was photographed amidst the New Zealand's officers, and he expressed to Captain Halsey (commander of the Nuw Zealand) his gratification, and wished the officers an enjoyable voyage. NEW ZEALANDERS PRESENTED TO THE KING. (Received February 6, I*3o a.m.) ' LONDON, Sth February. The New Zealand-born officers and men on the New Zealand were presented to the King. THE SHfp'S PROPER PLACE. , (Received February' 6, 8.60 a.m.) Wf „ LONDON, Bth February. x The Graph c. says that the battleship New Zealand s proper place is as a unit of the Pacific fleet, and not standing in lieu of a Blup winch ought to be built by the Home Government. DEEP HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE. NEWSPAPER "APPRECIATION. LONDON, Bth February. The newspapers are giving prominence to the King's visit to the New Zealand, and have published a number of lornr leaders on the subject. The Daily Mail says the visit htm * deen historic eignificance, and. the VeiT sel is a living proof that we have great allies in kindred overseas., New Zealand's example is bearing splendid fruit', but the Dominions' generosity has in no* wise 'diminished the need for British exertion. If only five battleships are laid down in 1913 Britain will not main.: tain the 60 per cent, margin over tho next navy. The Morning Post say* New Zealand has set a movement in train that bids fair to culminate in the organisation of a great defensive league between the self'governing States of the Empire. The growth of nationality overseas will give the sentiment of loyalty to the Empire more vigour and purpose, and experience will show the best machinery to provide for united action. The Daily Express saye th© King* , visit puts the Beal on a development which ha« completely changed British sea-power. The Pall Mall Gazette, in referring to the inspection by the King of the battle-cruiser New Zealand, says :«- "What an occasion for tho Monarch, captain, midshipmen, bluejackets, and marines aboard ! A freewill offering from the most distant Dominion, and a eign and symbol of a tether stronger than death binding the distant lands of the British Commonwealth: the New Zealand goes to greet South Africans, Australians. Canadians, in the name of their New Zealand brethren." australiaFcomment. colonies treated in lakqehearted manner. (Received February 6, 9.50 &.m.) • SYDNEY, This Day. The Daily Telegraph says : "The Em« pire's grateful recognition of New Zealand's action in presenting a battlecruiser is another example of the largehearted mariner in which the colonies are treated by the Mother Country. We have just as much at stake upon Great Britain retaining command of the sea as any other portion of the Empire; yet, when action is to be taken to show that, we realise the justice— not to speak of policy— of taking the share of the bur* den belonging to us, British public opinion expresses itself as if we were comerring some favour on the Empire, which would willingly have gone on providing for our defence whether we aid so or not. In strengthening the arm of the Empire in the North Sea we are simply making provision, pro tanto, for our own safety. It is an eminently practical thing to do, but that it involved any special display of an altruistic spirit which one might imagine from the comments by some sections of the British press is somewhat difficult to discern."