HON. J. ALLEN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 25, 4 June 1913, Page 5

HON. J. ALLEN.

INTERVIEW AT AUCKLAND A SUCCESSFUL MISSION. [Per Press Association Auckland, cue 3. The Hon. James Allen returned by the Makura, looking exceedingly well. Interviewed, Mr Allen was cheerful and optimistic, remarking, in reply to a query, that his financial mission had been eminently successful, and that ho returned with definite proposals to place before his colleagues. Discreetly Silent. Regarding the naval question the Minister said to his interviewer: “I should like to take the public into my confidence, but it is essential that the Prime Minister and my fellow members of the Cabinet should bo first acquainted with them. Whatever our naval policy is to be must remain with the Cabinet to say. I can say this, though, respecting the naval programme : It is quite clear that whatever course is decided upon there need be no fear that any New Zealand quota to the navy will be put under Australian control.”

Asked if there would be one fleet in Australasian waters, Mr Allen replied: “I am sorry on this point that I cannot say anything. The policy must ho decided by the Cabinet. But I can assure you that if anything is done in this direction, our quota will bo under New Zealand control in such case, though it might, of course, be used in conjunction with the Australian fleet in the event of a fleet mobilisation. I have come back with a definite proposal absolutely, as the result of a consultation with the British Admiralty and the Committee of Imperial Defence. Of course, it is really a Committee of Imperial Defence.”

Imperial Defence. Questioned on the subject of the Imperial Defence Committee, as to whether New Zealand would be represented, Mr Allen replied: “If you ask me if New Zealand was represented on tlie Imperial Defence Committee, I say ‘No; not directly/ but I attended, and the Committee asked me the question. I told them I would suggest certain things to the Cabinet. The suggestions were considered quite satisfactory; and that, I am afraid, is all I can tell you just now.” “No Mosquito Fleet.” “What about your mosquito fleet proposal for New Zealand?” suggested tlie pressman, t * b,ll jg/Jl “The mosquito fleet .proposal for New Zealand!” exclaimed the Minister in surprise., “I have never: said that New Zealand must have a mosquito fleet. I have talked about a mosquito fleet and the purposes cf such a fleet, but I assure you I have not said to anybody in .Canada or elsewhere that wo must have a mosquito fleet.” Mr Churchill's Proposals.

Speaking of Mr Churchill’s touring fleet proposals, the Minister remarked that, of course, from Canada’s,point of view, it would be a capital idea for them to support a squadron either for the Mediterranean or the North Sea. Such a squadron would be right enough for Atlantic purposes, and a defence for the eastern shores of Canada, but as far as the Pacific was concerned, he added, “I do not think it would bo of any material value. Such a fleet would undoubtedly be of value, but not the kind of value that we want.” The Expeditionary Force. , ‘‘They have been talking a lot of rubbish about this expeditionary force,” said Mr Allen. “All I proposed was the need of being ready with war material, equipment, and transport arrangements for the sending of an expeditionary force if the time ever came when such a force was needed. But so far as the personnel of such a force is concerned, I have always said that it was absolutely and unmistakably necessary that such a force must bo an entirely voluntary one. There is nothing new about the expeditionary force idea. I talked about it myself for some time before 1 left for Home. In fact, it has been talked about for at least two or three years. All it means is that we do not want to ho caught in the unprepared state in which we wore caught on the occasion of the Boer war, when New Zealand was so ready to respond to the appeal of our brothers oversea. When that appeal came, wo had plenty of men eager to go, but nothing arranged in the matter of equipment or transport. There was no knowledge of what the requirements uould bo for horse artillery or foot. In fact, there was no sort of organisation beforehand to meet all the necessities of such a situation. If the call comes at a moment’s notice, it is of little value to have men if we have not got all the necessary details arranged which are so necessary for effective operation at a moment’s notice. Can anyone object to such an obviously sensible proposition? There was never any question about a New Zealand expeditionary force being other than voluntary.” SYDNEY TELEGRAPH’S OPINION. (Received 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, June 4. Referring to Mr Allen’s guarded statement the Daily Telegraph says: “Mi' Allen’s present hints seem to indicate that he favours a separate unit policy, which was at first propounded by the Ward Government, and then virtually abandoned. New Zealand lias a comparatively small population, and is to a serious extent isolated. Whether she oan afford anything more than a mosquito

fleet, which Mr Allen repudiates, is, to say the least, questionable, and it New Zealand cannot provide and maintain anything better than a mosquito fleet, then as a partner with Australia and Canada in keeping the Pacific fdr Britain, it will not count for much.” ,