NAVAL DEFENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1925, Page 2

NAVAL DEFENCE

THIRD (REISER SECHESTED

WEI.I.I.NHTON. Sentemher 24. A demitation of delegates of tho Navy League from all parts of New Zealand waited on the Prime. Minister tn-dav.

Mr .1. .1. Dongall (Christchurch) said that the League was strongly of opinion that sea training was as essential as military training. Ho thanked the Government for what they had already done in that direction. He emphasised the laot that the British Navy was sadly lacking in light cruisers for the protection of overseas commerce. He said the Navy League suggested that New Zealand should contribute a third cruiser.

Mr R. Darroeh (Wellington) said tho League was pleased the Government had purchased a site for an air station at Auckland and hoped the provision of aircraft for naval requirements would not he lost sight of. Sir Heaton Rhodes ..Minister of Defence) said the provision of a third cruiser was a matter of policy and linmice, and particularly within tho province of the Prime Minister. Mr Coatse said that naval defence at present was costing New Zealand about Csoo,flOn a year, and next year the cost would he, roughly speakin" L'fiOO.OOO. That provided a naval unit sullivielit to absorb all the applicants for naval training at present and when the Diometles cruiser arrived. Then there was the question as to how much our contribution should he towards the British Navy—-whether we should increase it by making provision for another light cruiser in New Zealand waters or make a contribution equivalent to the maintenance of another cruiser to lie maintained in other waters, lie took it that the deputation was not so much concerned as to where the cruiser was to he stationed as that New Zealand should take its part in seeing that naval renewals were sufficient to provide a margin ol salety. Mr Dougall : Vos. Mr Coates said that in addition t.i the cost of L'fiflO.lH)l> there was the qticslion of bringing the air service up lo date. Our eont rihiti ion to Imperial naval defence was now slightly over per head, and another L'BX),()()() would make it a little over 9s per head. PyJ'-> .-.finally he thought that a steady development was better than rushing m stub ~ matter Ihmjiwm.* ol tlu* constant changes which were taking place in naval and other defence. In flie meantime, he entirely agreed that it was our iob as well as England’s to do all we could to keep naval renewals up to date and efficient, fn regard to that lie would go all tho way with the deputation. If it became neeessarv there was no doubt the Government would, within reason, contiibufe according to lhe Dominion’s capacity to do so.