Sir Thomas Brassey on the Navy.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 85, 17 January 1885, Page 5

Sir Thomas Brassey on the Navy.

Sir Thomas Brassey was present at a dinner given by the Fishmongers' Company on November 11, and responded for the navy. He said that he could confidently say that in the important class of battle - ships England stood at the present moment in a commanding position. With respect to the future she had, like other countries, to develop a policy ; but they knew this, that she had at her back enormous resou. ces to which she had only to make appeal to produce vessels much more rapidly than it was possible for any other naval country to do. The duty of the Admiralty was to look primarily to the power of the country against any possible combination of battleships. They had fully done their duty in that respect. He quite agreed that pro» tection was wanted for our commerce ; but very much could be done by judicious administration to give to our commerce the power of self-defence With regard to the naval artillery volunteer force, of which ho might say he was the father, it had maintained its existence for a number of years without the aid of a capitation grant. He should like to have been enabled with authority t o promise the volunteers a large donation of the sinews of war j but he was not authorised to do it, although he was able to say that their work was appreciated by the Government. The way in which they had adapted themselves to their duties, and the success they achieved, furnished another proof of the great resources of this country for the purpose of increasing the navy — resources which were great not only in our power of building material, but in our power of manning.