The Daily News MONDAY, AUGUST 23. NEW ZEALAND'S NEW NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 171, 23 August 1909, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, AUGUST 23. NEW ZEALAND'S NEW NAVY.

How signally Sir Joseph Ward lias represented, at the Imperial Defence Conference, New Zealand's aims and ambitions in the Pacific Ocean, should this morning be graciously acclaimed by even his bitterest political opponents. The question of defence is apart from and ■beyond all questions of party politics, and everyone can rejoice that the! Prime Minister, by his advocacy and counsel, has succeeded not only in elevating New Zealand into a full partnership in the vital matter of Imperial defence, but has opened the eyes of the British Government to the urgency of far more efficiently policing the Pacific Ocean, wherein not only Germany and France exercise a close vigilance, but where danger threatens from the growing strength of the great Eastern 'nations. China and Japan. That this latter danger is not visionary has long been recognised in Australia and New Zealand, and it has also been recognised that in the event of trouble Aust-: ,: i

and New Zealand would be practi' ■>'!y defenceless so fa r as their great iua"'timc and coastal interests are concerned. For that reason alone there has grown up in Australia a great national demand for a local navy, the nucleus of which is now being provided, with the co-operation and active sympathy of the British Admiralty. New Zealanj, on the other hand, recognising her inability at present to bear the great cost of a locally-owned navy, has willingly accepted the only alternative—the payment of as bit; a contribution, now ■£.100,000 a year, as she can afford to the British Navy. Recently came New Zealand's epoch-making offer of a Dreadnought to the British Government, demonstrating, as nothing else could have done, this country's willingness to share the Imperial burden. Stirred to greater action by the new vista of Imperial defence co-operation thus opened | up, the Imperial Defence Conference, embracing representatives from all the autonomous dominions, was summoned, and has now concluded its historic de-

liberations. The complete results o! the Conference will not lie known'for somi time, but the assurance we already havt shows conclusively that the Navy is t: be everywhere strengthened, and that ( coknplete system of cooperation be tween the various units, both naval ant military, throughout the Empire ha been agreed upon, placing not only tin little Home Land, hut each and ever; one of the scattered dominions, in ' position of almost unassailable security [ Australia and Canada are to hav I navies of their own, manned evcntua'l; I by their own people, and under the com I ptote control of their respective Govern ments. In every respect, however, the will be British ships, their whole metli ods in complete uniformity with thos of the British Navy, and in time o war or of iTmpeiial emergency at th service of the British Admiralty. Nci Zealand's case had, of course, to be coi sidered from a different standpoint—a partners, according to our means, in th Imperial Navy. And, it must be ad initted, we have been accorded a statu far beyond what the greatest Imperial ist amongst us ever hoped for. Accord ing to this morning's cable news, special naval force, consisting of eru>< ers, destroyers and submarines, is to b built, manned and maintained by Br tain, exclusively in New Zealand water! For this splendid protection, we wi merely continue to pay ou r subsidy o £IOO,OOO per annum. Presumably, th assumption of the Commonwealth « its own naval defence .will relieve th Mother Country of the necessity « maintaining the Australasian squadron tlie ships of which will probably h withdrawn, and new 7 vessels substitute! for them to patrol New Zealand waters Equally satisfactory, and equally mo mentous, is the intelligence that Bri tain's naval strength in the Pac'fk Ocean is being increased to four squadrons. New Zealand's Dreadnought is cc be attached to the China-Pacific fle?t which, it is announced, will make occasional visits to this country, presumably for combined fleet manoeuvres. It is significant that Britain*' naval strength in the Pacific Ocean, consisting at present of the China and the Australasian squadrons, is to be increased by two additional command* That New Zealand should occupy so prominent a position in the reorganisation scheme is a matter for gratification, the credit for which, to a very large extent, none will question, is due to the statesmnnship and foresight of the Premier, Sir .loseph Ward. The reorganisation of Imperial defence is not confined, however, to the naval aspect, as we have learned that the military forces of the whole of the Empire are about to he brought into uniformity, able to cooperate, without confusion, at the ► shortest notice, one with another at ' any threatened point. The earnestness , and thoroughness with which the United > Kingdom and the dominions have co- [ operated and elaborated a common plan . of defence must be a significant answer! • to Germany's recent challenge. Britain ', no tager seeks new territory, but is • determined that that which' she has | must so remain. The consolidation of , the Umpire's defence forces is to ensure ■ that British territory shall remain iii- [ violate and fo,- some considerable time , to come there should he little danger of • that position being assailed,