The Colonies and the Navy.

Manawatu Herald, 2 April 1903, Page 2

The Colonies and the Navy.

Speaking at Bulla on Wednesday, the Premier said that as there was now some - doubt as to what the ■ colonies were going to do in respect to our first line of defence, the Imperial Government should send Lord Selborne out here as First Lord of the Admiralty, and Ist him point out to the people of New Zealand what was pointed out at the conference of Premiers —and he regretted again that the proceedings of that conference had not been made public—namely, that the burden of the Mother Country was becoming very heavy. They must all realise that that was the case, and that with the danger of losing in respect to. commerce, trade and manufactures the burden would become all the greater. Let the Home Government, then, come to us and tell us really what they did want, and we would not fail them—(applause)—in the matter of the first line of defence, the Australian and New Zealand squadron.;: At the conference he had agreed, aubjegt to ratification by his colleagues, and by Parliament, that the subsidy paid, by New Zealand should be increased from £21,000 a year to £40,000, an increase of £19,000 a year, buHtbat meant that the present squadron, under present conditions, was obsolete and unfit to contend against the ini-:: proved condition of other nations in the Pacific. There was an alteration in the situation with respect to China, with Russia seeking a seaboard, with America in the Philippines and Hawaii and at Tutaila, Germany at Samoa and Franca strengthening her navy at New Caledonia. Under these conditions there was .4 necessity for strengthening the New Zealand and Australian squadron. It was a question of £40,000 and an’ up-to-date squadron, or £21,000 and an obsolete one. -He felt he was not going beyond what the people would support when be said : “ Give us a squadron that will meet the existing conditions (applause) —? and New Zealand will stand by you in that as iu the emergency in South Africa." (Applause.) Parliament he hoped would ratify the agreement. His colleagues had already agreed to it, and if he found that this country* was prepared to go on and ignore that which would maintain a free highway, and so weaken the Empire, and would not recognise the difficulties that had to be faced and the necessity of keeping Britain safe as mistress of the sea, it must get another Prime Minister, for lit done with it. (Applause).— NZ. Timas. - «