DOMINION DEFENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1924, Page 1

DOMINION DEFENCE.

MB MASSEY’S EXPLANATION. WELLINGTON, 3lay 15. Tlie Prime Minister, speaking at Auckland on Saturday, remarked that the Dominion's expenditure on defenco would soon be a million a year, but there is an impression abroad that when making this statement -Mr Massey was referring to naval defence alone. In the course of an interview to-day, Air Massey made it clear that his remarks had reference to both naval and land defence.

“Some people thought, when I mentioned the cost, that I wa.s speaking of naval defence,” said Mr Massey. “1 was speaking of the total cost of de fence, belli naval and military, and T said in all probability it would reach a million within a year or two, and was not very inr short of a. million now. A million for a population like that of New Zealand is not at all a bad contribution.’'

•Hr Alassev also cleared up a misapprehension under which some people labour with respect to the cost of naval defence. At the present time. New Zealand bears the cost of maintenance of a cruiser which forms a unit in the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, and Ali- Alassev lias stated that at some time in the future another cruiser may also be obtained, ami later on possibly a third. New Zealand does not boy these cruisers, or pay the cost of their construction, as some people think. The Dominion's expenditure is merely on maintenance. Alt- .Massey's statement on this point to-dav was as follows: "The cruisers are practically loaned to its by Ihe British Government, on the understanding that as long as they serve the purpose there will be no interference in that respect, and the British Government will not take them away. AVe pay maintenance.” - The cost of maintenance of IT.ALS. Dunedin, • which was about to become Ibe flagship of the New Zealand division. AT r Alassev proceeded, would be between fLY,O.O(IO and WOO.tKi:) per annum, lie thought, however, that the cost of maintaining the Dunedin would lie less than that of ihe ■Chatham, because the complement of the Dunedin wa.s 100 melt le-s. anil the Diiueiiin was till oil-burner, whereas tin- Chatham used coal for tuel. Air Massey added:---“If we go in for another cruiser, naval defence will probably cost about. MOO,OOO a year When the time comes when-we think it our duty to take over another cruiser. v. ill be a vessel like the Datum or Daunt to-s, which are sister ships of t!:e Dunedin.”

Mr Alassev concluded by saying that (he arrangement under which New Zealand worked in regard to naval defence enabled the British Government to withdraw some ol the smaller cruisers, which il had out' in these waters.