SEA POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8049, 14 February 1906, Page 2

SEA POWER.

THE NAVY MUST NOT Bl: WEAKEN KD.

Speaking iu response lo llio toast of "Parliament" at the banquet to Sir J. G.Ward last Thursday, the Premier said the cabled information that it was intended to reduce the naval estimates had caused him a little anxiety, as it must have caused his hearers, and he hoped the cable was incorrect. Every well-wisher of the Empire would agree that it would be a retrograde step. " We are interested in that question," said the Premier, "as much as the people of the Mother Country. The people of the self-governing colonies would say,' Don't touch the navy. Increase its power. It will require to be more powerful lo meet the altered conditions.' " (Applause.) Owing lo uncontrollable circumstances, the conference of Prime Ministers of self-govern-ing colonics was, the Premier explained, not held this year. Had it been held, he was sure the representatives of ihe colonics would have urged the .necessity for increasing, not reducing, the strength of the navy. "As the conference has not taken place," added Jie Premier, " iu niy humble capacity i-s leading citizen of this colony, I take ;"ie opportunity to ask, in the name of the people of this colony, that nothing be done iu this respect until after the conference has been held. If more assistance ls'requircd from the colonics to strengthen the navy, I voice your views, and the views of the p ;ople of New Zealand, when I s-iy that we n ill cheerfully contribute ralher than thai the situation should be weakened." (Applause.) The Premier went on to say that llio British navy gave the lirst naval lessons to Japan. That the Japanese had been apt pupils the late war had proved. " But you must hive read with some dill'idence," he said, " the irony of fate that we are to send, on behalf of the British Empire, our officers to be educated in Japan. I must believe that this, as many other things we read in the press, lacks cmflrmation, and that with further info - nution thore will probably be ainther view of the question."