THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 119, 7 October 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

SIR JOSEPH WARD CRITICISED. SECTIONAL" NAVIES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyrigkt. Melbourne, October 5. _ Mr. _ Pearce, Minister for Defence, discussing Sir Joseph Ward's views on defence, said that Sir Joseph Ward did not give the reasons why he was unable to conceive the idea of an Australian squadron defending British interests in the Pacific. Sir Joseph Ward, at the Imperial Conference, admitted that the idea of a Pacific fleet to which the Dominion would each contribute a unit, was advanced by the Admiralty. That indicated that sectional navies were not regarded with disfavor by the Admiralty. By the agreement Sir Joseph Ward proposed on behalf of New Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward proposed to take the control of a portion of the China-Pacific unit out of the hands of New Zealand. Mr. PCarce considers that, according to the view Sir Joseph Ward now takes, the proposal he (Sir Joseph) then made had all the disadvantages of a sectional navy and none of its advantages. It did not appeal to local patriotism, and must hamper the Admiralty in its administration. He added that in these cases Sir Joseph Ward's proposals and his comments were inconsistent. "The Australian policy, on the other hand," said Mr. Pearce, "does not hamper the Admiralty, and leaves, us free to develop the naval spirit 01 the Commonwealth."