THE NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2075, 9 May 1907, Page 2

THE NAVY.

s ADMIRAL FAWKES BANQUETED. a e Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Admiral and officers of the squadron were entertained at dinner by the members of the Ministry last i evening. The Acting-Premier, Mr Hall-Jones, iiresided. ‘'N otwi tli--1 standing what has been said in Aus--3 tralia with regard to the establish- . ment of an Australasian navy under c- the Commonwealth, I cannot but bei lievo that the Australians would , bo only too willingJt'o pay a sum [ more proportionate\to tiie services - that are being rendered, than was . being paid at the present time.”! In r these words the Acting-Premier eml phasised, when proposing the toast of the Imperial forces of the Crown, liis conviction that New Zealand’s interest lay in maintaining the Imperial fleet as a whole, instead of establishing separate colonial fleets. ' The occasion was the dinner at Bellamy’s, at which the Government ’ entertained the Admiral and his staff. Continuing, Mr. Hall-Jones said New Zealand and Australia were now paying some v£240,000 a yeai towards the upkeep and cost of the squadron. As a matter of fact that did not represent more than one third of the cost of the squadron. (Hear, hear and applause.) He had 5 no hesitation in saying that we were ■ not playing sufficient for the great service we were receiving. (Loud ! While there must be • some advantages in having an Aus--1 navy, they could not get ■ away from the fact that under mod--1 ern conditions of fighting any ene--1 my opposed to them they would have 5 to concentrate. At present tile Im- ; perial navy probably outnumbered any two, or more nearly any three, 1 foreign Powers. The enemy’s fleet in any war would have to concen--1 H'ate either for attack or defence That being so, it would never do to have vessels lying out here doiim nothing, while their services were required elsewhere.(Loud, applause.) As far as lie could see naval warfare meant finding out where the enemy pfas, and getting there as soon as possible, and that could only be done be haying a control which would permit the vessels being moved to a point where their services were required. (Loud applause.) They might rest assured that if tile Australian squadron was removed from liese waters no permanent injury could be inflicted upon the Empire as a whole, so long as they (could get to the main force of the enemy and deal with it as he felt suro “the navy would do. (Loud applause.) Ho lelieved lie was expressing the opinwn of tho State as a whole in reiterating the opinion expressed by the 1 render before leaving for Home. Jhe Premier would he justified in lydoing that view before the Imperial Government while ho was at Home, because he believed New Zealanders were prepared to pay a fair Siiare for tho work that was being dome. Not one man in Now Zealand would begrudge the cost. (Loud applause.) Thero wore some New Zealanders on the ships. (Admiral Fawkes: “And some very good oaos.’’) Yes. everything from Now Zealand was good. The Admiral had been so taken with their' qualifications that forty-one Australians and ' New Zealanders had been sent Homo to qualify in the higher branches of gunnery and other practices for thq

higher positions in the service. (Loin applause.) Admiral Fawkes, in replying, reiu "a cablegram from Sur Joseph Ward expressing regret at not being pro sent. The speech-making did noi commenco until a Into hour. Replying to the toast, Admiral Fawkes said he might quote the words of a great European statesman that a strong British navy was tho best guarantee of tho peace of tlio world. The greatest interest of the British Empire was peace.. He made bold to say that the best interest of nearly every inhabitant on the face of tho globe, except perhaps some few who still had to earn their freedom through war, was peace, but how unnecessary war was when ono thought that only a few years ago wo wero nearly at war with France about some obscure sphere in the Soudan, and now we might look upon Franco as one of our greatest friends, with its great Liberal ideas, its advanced civilisation, and its arts, literature, manners, and refinements: It was something to feel that a strong British navy saved us from the sorrows of a war with France, our best friend. Notwithstanding all these matters of Peace Conferences and Arbitration it would still be a case '■of "Si vis pacorn pare bollum.” While he would not touch on any question of preference or that of protection v. freetrado, ho thought what they should aim for was freotrade within the Empire. ' That could not come vet, although there was a time when many thought that freetrado could not come between the States of Australia. Dealing with the question of defence of the Empire, they, had to see that the old home of tho race , iy.*s kept intact, and also the out- . lying parts of the estate. Ho was , quito certain that New Zealand , would meet in a spirit of self-sacri- 5 fice any dangers threatening the Empire. t The toast of the Parliament of . New Zealand was proposed by Pro- - lfossor Alnclaurin. In doing so, he admitted that- the Ministry-made s doctors of law in New Zealand would not be a good thing, but at the same * pjfmo he would like to see more of j our university men entering politi- , cal life. t

Dr. Findlay replied. The gather- j ing concluded with .the singing of the National Anthem. v