H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 53, 4 March 1913, Page 5

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

‘‘DFSIRABH/TY OF LARGER PATRIOTISM OF EMPIiUH.” By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.! (United Press Association.) (Received 8.50 a.in ; Capetown, March A The Hon. Sir ■ Nicholas de Waal, K.C.M.G., Administrator, of the Cape of Good Hope Provinces, at a banquet on the arrival of the New Zealand, said the occasion showed South Africans that they were a part of trie Empire for ever, and impressed toe desirability of a larger patriotism of the Empire. “I hope,” ho sal l , ‘to see a South African nationah-m, which will firing into being ibo realisation of South Africa’s duty and her readiness always to do her share with the other dominions in maintaining the Empire in its present proud ppsi tion.” Publicity has been given to a rumour in the New Zealand press (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph) that the battleship New Zealand has been selected as the flagship of a Pacific fleet to ho maintained collectively by Australia and New Zealand. It is stated that there are good grounds for stating that so far as actual events are concerned the rumour is unfounded, and that the suggested employment of the New Zealand has not been discussed by the Governments concerned. On the other hand the New Zealand is just such a vessel as might ho selected for the flagship of a Pacific fleet in the event of Australia and Now Zealand joining hands in naval defence, and it is not impossible that the battle-cruiser may ultimately be selected for that purpose. Probably the theorists who started the rumour based it upon no more substantial foundation than this possibility, winch no doubt is strengthened by the circumstances under which the New Zealand was .built and paid for.