THE NAVAL QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 669, 16 May 1914, Page 5

THE NAVAL QUESTION.

MR C. K. WILSON'S ATTITUDE.

OPPOSED TO HEAVY IN CREASES.

The naval policy of the Dominion is figuring largely among the political questions of the day, and a Chronicle representative took the opportunity of interviewing Mr C. K. Wilsoi', member for the district, on the subject on Wednesday last. Asked as to the assertions made in connection with the Government proposals in respect to naval defence, Mr Wilson said he would like to combat the assertion that the Government was involved in a heavy naval expenditure. The arrangement made by the late Government and the Admiralty was that the Government should pay the Imperial authorities £IOO,OOO subsidy to the Navy. In 1911 Sir Joseph Ward made an agreement, with the Admiralty for certain ships to be stationed in New Zealand waters. The present Government found that the Admiralty refused to carry out this arrangement. In their opinion circumstances had changed necessitating the retention of all available ships in Home waters The Massey Government then approached the Imperial authorities and offered an additional £50,000 subsidy if they would give effect to the 1911 agreement. This was also declined by the Admiralty, but they agreed to station one ship in Now Zealand waters, to be manned by New Zealand officers andj boys, and agreed that the cost of such training ship should be paid out of the £IOO,000 subsidy, the balance to be paid by way of subisdy. In thu present arrangement no additional expense ia incurred by the Governm«nt in that direction. It must be remembered also, said Mr Wilson, that all proposals in the way of increased expenditure from New Zealand mußt be submitted to Parliament. As it is understood the Naval question iB purely a non-party matter, said Mr Wilson, I must say I am not in favour of any hoavy increases in this direction, and would certainly oppose them in Parliament.