Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1927, Page 2

In his published statement on naval defence, Mr Coates, the Prime Minister, went on to remark: “It will Ive remembered mat New Zealand’s first assistance towards the naval defence of the Empire was l>v means of a monetary contribution to the Royal Navy, and for a considerable period this arrnngemnt proved satisfactory. It enabled the people of this country' to assume in some small degree the heavy cost of tlie Royal Navy, and a significant devlopment of this method of contribution was the timely gift in 1009 by the Government led by Sir Joseph Ward, of the battle cruiser New Zealand. This gift was a practical exemplification of the Imperial spirit of our people, and the ship proved of material assistance in the dark days of the war.” The reference to Sir Joseph Ward’s gift battleship is worth noting. When it was made, as the subsequent circumstances proved, so opportunely, for real defensive purposes, political opponents of the Ward Government up and down New Zealand made all the political capital they could out of the Premier’s action. It was not a very creditable thing to do. indeed it savoured of disloyalty. But there were those on the platform, in the public press, and by cartoon and other objectionable means, discredited the action, and assisted in no small way to hasten the defeat of the Government. Sir Joseph Ward’s revenge came later when the gift ship, in so remarkable a manner, demonstrated her usefulness in the stern realities of war. Now we have Mr Massey’| successor admitting the value of the' gift in question, though the late Prime Minister and his followers sought to make so much political capital out of the gift ship nearly two decades ago.