EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 49, 29 October 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.

STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, October 28. Mr Massey to-day laid before the House the Government’s proposals relative to naval defence. In explaining the attitude of the Government, he stated that the delay wits in no way attributable to the Administration, but to circumstances over which they had no control. He dealt with the position from the time the first subside was granted by the New Zealand Parliament on account of Imperial naval defence, in 1909. The annual contribution of the Dominion had been increased from £20,000 in 188, to £IOO,OOO and then fqllowed the gift of the battleship. Under the agreement of 1909, the battleship New Zealand was to be a flagship of the China unit, and a portion of that unit, consisting of two cruisers, three destroyers, and two submarines, was to be stationed in time of peace in New Zealand.

. Ufitil 1912 the Imperial Government have maintained in the South Pacific an Australasian squadron, but with the advent of the new arrangement between the Imperial Government and the Commonwealth of Australia, that squadron had been withdrawn, with the exception of some of tho smallet vessels, which would remain in New Zealand waters. That was the posi tion at the time of the visit of th Defence Minister to England this year. The Minister was commissioned to interview the authorities and endeavor to bring about a more satisfactory state of affairs. So far as New Zealand was concerned, the Minister was informed that the position, since the signing of the 1909 agreement, had changed so materially that it wa? considered inadvisable to carry out the agreement ’or send ships to New Zealand. The result of the conference wavtliat New Zealand should train hei own personnel for that purpose, and the Admiralty should lend New Zea land a sea-going training-ship am the necessary complement of officers and men. This ship was to be nuclei the administration of the New Zealand Government, hut to he at the disposal Of the Admiralty when required It u as further arranged that for Im perial purposes in the. Pacific, and tc assist in the protection of commerce the Admiralty< should station in NeU Zealand waters two light cruiser which had-constituted!part of tin Australasian Squadron. The Govern ment decided to ask the Admiralty fo; two of the Bristol type of cruiser in stead of the two light cruisers, in which case the Government would asl Parliament to provide an additiona £■50,000 annually. That offer had no : been accepted. The Secretary cf State had cabled that the anticipations of 1909 could not be carried out, as the stationing of the Bristols in New Zea land waters would interfere with the general strategic disposition of the naval strength necessary in the in terests of Empire, as the whole of the available Bristols were required elsewhere.

“it appears,” the Prime Minister continued, “that we were on the eve of great changes in the Pacific, and it was well that we should commence tc shoulder our responsibilities and lookforward to the Empire and our growing Dominion.”

In the meantime the H.M.S. Philomel will he taken over by the New Zealand Government, and a commence ment made with the training of oiu own men. The Government anticipated little difficulty in securing recruits, including members of the native race, Tlie present arrangement for the training on the two naval cadet ships, Osborne and Dartmouth, will continue. After completing their training the men belonging to the New Zealand naval force will he available for serving in any ships which may in future he maintained by,the New Zealand Government, or in the Royal Navy.

Legislation will be introduced to enable the Xow Zealand Government to establish a naval force of officers and men to serve either in Xew Zealand ships or in the Royal Navy. The officer in charge pf a sea-going training cruiser shall be a senior officer of the Xew Zealand naval force and adviser to the Government. Provision will lie made at Auckland for a naval depot. The scale of pay of officers of the Royal Xavy Irtit to the Xew Zealand Government shall he at the same rate as in the Royal Xavy. Unless a separate New Zealand unit iestablished, the men lent from the navy will receive New Zealand rates of pay.

In addition to the annual payment of about £IIO,OOO to meet the sinking fund and other interest charges on account or the cost of the battleship, an annual appropriation will be made for the present time of £IOO,OOO, to ho used for the purpose of paying for the maintenance of a training-ship, the cost of men sent to New Zealand, the cost of all men belonging to the New Zealand naval force, and the cost of training New Zealanders for officers for tin; Koval Navy or the New Zealand force. The balance will be paid to tin 1 Admiralty.

“in placing their opinions before the House, the Government,” continued the Premier, “was not thinking only of the present or of the immediate future, but of what may happen in years to come and of the necessity of making preparations. Therefore, the British Dominions in the Paeilie should aim at nothing less than a British naval supremacy for this hemisphere. It may take years to bring about, but

move difficult tasks ; ha.ve keen accomplished by the people of I tW.®ritish race.” PRESS COMMENT. (Received S .o a.m.) Sydney, October 29. The Movmng Herald says ; “Mr Massey’s statement will be received with gratification in Australia, first because it marks a i,.further determination on the part of f : Ne)V Zealand to pursue a patriotic endeavor to make an effeclrve contribution to the defence needs of the Empire;.and secondly because in two important respects it records an approximation to . the policy of the Commonwealth. The statement marks the second stage in the evolution of that joint co-ordinated organisation- for.,tile Imperial Defence of the Pacific whereof the establishment of the Australian Navy was the first. Personal service is of greater moment than a mere cash subsidy, and we are glad that New Zealand has taken up this matter with such whole-hearted recognition of its importance. The policy of New Zealand naturally opens the whole question of co-operation with Australia, and affords a further cogent reason for the early holding of a Defence Conference. Advantage will doubtless bo taken of . the arrangement already made for training New Zealand naval cadets at the Comomnwealth Naval College. In other matters, whilst there will be no attempt on the part of the Commonwealth to interfere in the domestic arrangements of the sister Dominion, every possible means for cordial co-operation for common ends will be heartily welcomed and reciprocated by Australia. We congratulate the Dominion on its statesmanlike outlook.” CANADA’S NAVY, Ottawa, October 2S. Addressing the Canadian Club, the Duke of Connaught and Sir W. Laurier being present, Mr Mcßride, the Premier of British Columbia, deeply regretted Canada’s failure to pass the Naval Defence Act. National defence ought to bo completely outside politics. Even if there was only a| hint of emergency Canada ought to come forward with a handsome contribution. As the Canadian Club is nonpolitical, the speech caused a sensation.

The Duke of Connaught said that lie was glad to know that the Canadians wore desirous to do their whole duty towards the Empire in the matter of defence.