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Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1931, Page 4

Tx the*'thought of the times to-day, an outline of the views of the ‘Bishop of Gloucester are given on disarmament- There is no doubt that Great Britain cannot afford to throw aside lightly her naval power. There is a great deal of unrest in the world and it is essential the Empire .should be able to defend itself, and that calls foij the maintenance of the ocean routes. TV hat the Bishop says about piracy is true. It is a dangerous element likely to grow if not controlled. So with the remarks regarding Russia. The trade rivalry growing up will create trouble, possibly, in the future, and Great Britain must be prepared to see that her ships may pass their accustomed way. The Navy is primarily for the benefit of the United Kingdom. At the time cf the Great War during

the intensive period,. Germany nearly broke down the naval defence. At the outset the Germans calculated that by waging six months of intensive wair on the British shipping, Britain could be [nought to the verge of starvation and surrender. History records that they came very near tosuccess. That is a recent instance of actual experience, and might well form the basis of an intimate study of the position for the future. And the future may approach rapidly. In point of fact therefore the possibilities of the present are as great as they were in the recent past, when the food slips for England were sunk in so many waters,, and for a time till the submarine menace was .mastered, the fate of the Kingdom was in jeopardy. The words of a man of peace as the Bishop must be, should be taken into account, Fleets are not created hurriedly, and nothing should be left to chance. The battle of the .polls at Home in the near future will be mainly about free trade, protection and the safeguarding of industries, but as an. English writer, points out war time may come again, and the only way in which the nation can trade freely is behind adequate naval protection while the real safeguards of industry and commerce will be the ships of the British Fleet. And in the opinion of the writer referred to, Britain lias not such a. Fleet today!