NEW ZEALAND AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 29 April 1907, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AFFAIRS.

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. Fj»ss Association. WELLINGTON, Saturday. The following lias been supplied to the' Press Association by the Government: “In the course of his speech at the Royal Colonial Institute dinner, Sir Joseph Ward said the deliberations on defence matters at the Con- - ference were most important, and the, prospects of a, workable scheme for the interchange of Imperial British officers anti units for education purposes would prove valuable. He strongly favored, the British navy being under the entire control of the Admiralty at London. New Zealand preferred to support the British navy, by way of subsidy, and if necessary increased subsidy. He thought it puite possible the ships in New Zea lan'd waters could be manned entirely by New Zealand .crews, and thus a source of irritation and friction woult be removed. Now Zealand would not object to the subsidy being devoted entirely to providing crews if the Admiralty so desired. He strongly favored .au active policy to bring the navy at Home and abroad to the highest point, ot strength and perlcction in times of peace, so as to be fully ecpiippel for any unexpected ~em urgency. At the Colonial Conference lie was glad to hear the views of Lord Tweedmouth re

DOCKS AND COALING STATIONS. New Zealand in that respect would not be behind, and with the co-opera-tion of flic" Home authorities excellent facilities in both these matters could bo provided. Already the Galliops dock at Auckland was available tor shiiis of war, and if the Admiralty desired to have further docks in future for strategic use lie suggested tin desirability of stating wliat the length and size of ships in future in New Zealand waters would be, and that the harbor authorities who, confciol the docks should have this information furnished to them, and he had no doubt .that if circumstances required thev would co-operate with the Admiralty in making provision for the future. Coal amongst the finest qualities ill the world -was available attlie mines at Greymoutli and Vestport. The country recognised the importance of coal development, and had become responsible for about four bundred thousand pounds of funds for the development ot these ports. Extui sions and expansions would be piovide a for. It was entirely a mattei of money to make provision for any warships tb coal at these harbors, and he would be glad to confer with the Fh-st Lord of the Admiralty upon this or upon any other matter calcu-1-ited to improve the position of tlie Ships patrolling these seas. He recogMARITIME STRUGGLE FOR EMHllb,

if ever one occurred, would be most iikelv near England, and tlie victory; whenever it took place would bo utal to all parts of the Empire. Ht thought thev ought to help as fai a. possible to strengthen the outlying portions of tlie great Empire New Zealand was not prepared to enter upon a policy building battleships or sailing its own navy. It h a< lto b remembered tlie colony w' Y n that a great internal development policy was necessary for voars ocomc for providing not alone for the peo pie at present in New Zealand, but for a large increase in population athe years went on and settlement devclopedtlie country. This was an im • portant to England New Zealand. ’ and even if lie favored such a poll

which lie did not, tlioro tion to tho powers of a country hko Now Zealand, ill incurring heavy, financial responsibilities. Within limited means they would do tlieir part, but for some years to come it must he ill the direction of helping and supporting the .British navy as against any ambitions of a local navy scheme. Australia was entitled to give effect to such a policy as they considered best, and his irioud Mr. Donkin would have his support in what they desired to do, although ho could not see his way to make it apply to tlio whole of Now Zealand.

ARMY PROPOSALS. In reference to the army nroposals, Sir Joseph AVard considered that a uniform scheme of guns, ammunition, and war material was most desirable, so that the same weapons and ammunition could ho made use of in times of action. 1-Ie expressed approval of the work so for done at the Conference, though important matters were still to he dealt with. He urged that ill addition to the sentimental side, efforts should ho made in a practical direction to bring the Motherland and its sons beyond the sens closor together, lie suggested the importance of Australia and New Zealand having some say in the Board of Control of tho SUEZ CANAL.

There was growing an increasing trade through it from both countries. It was part of the world’s highway, and those portions of the Empire that used it should have some say in its management and control. He did not ask for nominal representation, hut they should ho allowed to purchase a portion of the Suez shares to entitle them to representation on the Beard of Control.

He urged that. Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand should set earnestly to work to provide A FASTER MAIL SERVICE across the Atlantic and Pacific, and to bring Australia and New. Zealand to within twenty days of London. This was quite possible—four days to Canada, four days across tho Continent, and twelve days across the Pacific to Now Zealand. Provided they wont for steamers of modern size, build, and speed, it was capable of being performed. One of the greatest troubles of the colonios was tho distance from the Old Land. If it were possible to have the opportunity of doing the journey in three weeks thousands would travel where hundreds do so now. The benefits of trade that would ensue, the knowledge of the country that would follow visits of our respective peoples, would ho invaluable. Then, again, to bring us closer together we wanted CHEAPER CABLE RATES. He declared liis belief that it would pay England, India, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand if even they could not own all the cables between their respective countries, to have the rates reduced to Is, or even sixpence a word, and to guarantee the present returns that were accruing from business passing over file lines. He included the Pacific cable in any suggested guarantee, and his opinion was that though a loss at first would occur, the reduced rates would mean such an enormous increase of traffic that' the guarantee of the Motherland and other portions of the Empire to which he referred would soon he a nominal one. They could not get such enormous advantages over a world-wide Empire without some sacrifice, and he believed that with their power and prestige the course suggested would involve comparatively little sacrifice. IMMIGRATION. Speaking on emigration to Now Zealand at tho Conference, Sir Joseph Ward said that to entertain indiscriminate emigration would not be approved in New Zealand, and though he was a believer in helping to obtain a steady increase of pomilation from Great Britain, they had to be careful to gu%rd against unsuitable people being sent to the country. It was as much in the interests of Great Britain to retain the best class of her people ns to send them abroad 'and upon the assumption they desired to send a class the majority of whom were not the best suited to remain in England, he could not agree to any selection of people for New Zealand excepting under responsible supervision and control of the High Commissioner for New Zealand and his staff. Ho thought that was New Zealand’s best way to proceed. New Zealand was glad to receive jieople from Britain if they were of a suitable class and had some capital. In two years 6600 people had received passages at reduced rates, and had taken capital into New Zealand amounting to £276,000, and they had in addition without assistance also drawn upwards of 50,000 to the colony from British possessions. He did not advocate any indiscriminate sending out of unskilled labor who had neither means nor vocation, and who would merely flood the labor market. There was an opening for farmers and others with capital, also for domestic servants, and if the system of control and supervision now carried out as well as the nominated practice which had been in operation for some years were maintained, he thought they could meet the reasonable requirements of the colonies. He preferred that the expansion of the colony should go on on steady lines without upheavals or the possibility of turning hack.