ATTACKS ON COMMERCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 154, 20 September 1927, Page 15

ATTACKS ON COMMERCE

NEXT NAVAL WAR COMMANDER MIDDLETON’S ADDRESS “Attacks on commerce will be the main objective in the next naval war," said Commander J. R. Middleton, D. 5.0., in an address on “New Zealand and Naval Defence," at the Rotary Club luncheon yesterday. Adequate defence was the first essential, he said. He referred to tne Washington Conference and the recent conference in England, where it was the main idea to cut down naval armaments. The British Empires had 9,500,000 tons of shipping on the seas and that was only taking ships of 3,000 tons and over. There were 80,000 miles of seaboard to cover, and New Zealand, like England, was dependent for prosperity on commerce. Before the war Britain was supposed to be able to meet any two other nations at sea, but now she was equalled by America. The position was a serious one and they did not want to see naval defence cut down. No one wanted war, but it did happen and commerce would suffer if there was another sea battle. He stressed the need for a realisation of responsibility on the part of the public. There were those who agreed that there must be a bigger navy, but when it came to the point of support for such a thing people failed to make use of their responsibility.