New Zealand and Imperial Defence.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 May 1910, Page 4

New Zealand and Imperial Defence.

«— DISCTKSKD MY WAIMATM FARMERS. LOCAL YIORSrs IMPERIAL NAYY. At the Farmers' Union meeting, after disposal of the other business, Mr Meredith moved a resolution regarding Imperial defence. The wording, says tiie "Wainiate Advertiser," was to the effect that the Government should be urged to co-operate with Australia in establishing a strong local navv as a means of strengthening the system of Imperial defence, and supporting the Government in the introduction of universal compulsory military training, lie made the point that the exports of the dominion were now worth some £20,000,000, and a scheme he had outlined fourteen years ago would have cost Australia and New Zealand only 3os per hundred as an insurance premium upon the whole exportable value of the Australian colonies.

After some desultory discussion the chairman said that if Mr .Meredith would alter his resolution to provide for strengthening the Imperial Xavv and make every young fellow learn the art of defence he would support it. Hut to ask for an Australian navy was not, to his mind, any good, because it would simply be smashed up. (Applause.) He suggested complimenting the Government on the stand taken in the direction of compulsory training. Hut to have a navy for Australasia simply meant that their purses would not stand it. Furthermore, if the local navy was not sufficient to carry out the purposes it was intended for, it was useless, and they might as well be without it.

Mr G. Head seconded the motion, and pointed out that all things must have a beginning. America and Japan each had to make a beginning He desired to endorse what Mr Meredith had said. It would he foolish to rely entirely upon the British Navy, for in the event of a prolonged conflict in the Home waters the outlying parts of the Empire would be at the mercy of any aggressive power.

Mr E. Richards urged Mr Meredith to .alter his motion and support a strong Mritish Xav.v. Mr Meredith said he had no objection to altering his motion, but lie was in favour of moving along the same line as Canada. Any movement in Australasia in the direction of strengthening the Empire in her outposts would help Great Britain. Voice: Oh, no. Mr Meredith said that if Great Britain were involved in a war she would not be able to protect us. "We must prated ourselves, so that in doing that we would be protecting the Empire in a measure. Great Mritain was very anxious to see the oversea, dominions protecting themselves. because she derived helloed supplies from us. ft would be wrong for us to dip our hands into the pockets ol the taxpayers of Great Mritain too deeply. Tn reply to the objection to the expense of a local navy, he pointed out that money con id be obtained in Large sums by Australia and Xew Zealand at as low a rate as 3 per cent. Five millions could be 'Had for a start for £15,000 per annum. His proposal of 14 years ago was on this basis with a sinking fund sufficient to extinguish the debt upon the expiration of the life of the first warships built. This would <be the best system of mercantile insurance they could get, 'and the premium would only amount to 3os per £100 of their exports. If a war took place tlie basis of operations would bo Kurope and they should require lor a time to shift'for themselves. Mr Michards urged that if a nova I conflict took place it would be fought out in European waters, and it Mritain won, which she ought to do, there would be 110 fear lor New Zealand. The prizes cifc stake in the European arena would be so big that no attention would be paid to these isolated parts of the Empire. (Applause.) Mr Jas. O'Rourke said the chief objection to local navies was the division of control from an Imperial point of view. The chief aim of all the' countries establishing local navies was to 'Have the control vested in those countries. That was the ideal, although they wer'o ijot yet in a position to put it in practice. As to the next war being fought out in Europe, if Great Britain were defeated the colonial navies would be impotent to resist the assault of a. victorious power.

Mr T. A. Maginness said the resolution appeared to him to be belated. The Government had taken definite steps in both naval and military defense, and it was unnecessarv to go further with the motion.

The motion was amended to provide for the support of the Government in increasing the subsidy to the Imperial navy and in introducing compulsory military training, and passed in that form.