THE NAVAL AGREEMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8845, 22 June 1907, Page 2

THE NAVAL AGREEMENT.

Mr Reid’s Views. Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, June 22. At the annual meeting of the Seamen’s Mission, at which the Admiral was present, Mr Eeid declared that he was getting anxious about the fleet. He read with pride the expressions of Sir Joseph Ward on the matter. New Zealand was a very little part of Australasia, but, since Federation, in regard to any great phase of public question which touched Imperial instincts it would always have been not the Premier of Australia, but the Premier of New Zealand, who led the way. Sir Joseph Ward was leading the way again when he said in effect that he was not going to tear up the naval agreement. Mr Eeid said he was in favour, of an Australian navy, but he would begin on a small scale, and until they got it ho would go on paying the subsidy. He concluded —“ So far as my influence goes as a public man, I will stand by the side of the Premier of Zealand and will see that there is no hand that will tear up the agreement between the Mother Country and ourselves. We might yet feel ashamed and say we will give a little more.” Speaking at the laying of the foundation stone of the Eoyal Naval House, the Minister of Education said he hoped tho Commonwealth would not abolish the naval subsidy He thought an Australian navy might some day be built, but, as tho Admiral had said, for“ training purposes only. The idea of an independent Australian navy for purely defensive purposes was not to be entertained at all. This was the opinion of the State Government, and he believed also of Parliament and the people.

Sir James Fairfax said it was the desire of the people that the fleet should remain in Australian waters.