THE NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 247, 8 March 1913, Page 5

THE NAVY.

\ THE CANADIAN J-JLL. " '__ A CONTINUOUS SITTING. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. .Ottawa, Majich IS. The House is still silting, having completed sixty Injurs' continuous debate. Members ran scarcely .whisper. Jielays are taking eight hours shifts, to finable the Opposition to proceed. The Government is facing the alternative of going without supply or adjourning the Naval Bill for a week. Mr. Borden announces .his intenti.cn of introducing a measure restricting debate, but it will be ineffective, as the Liberals will be able to obstruct this on the same lines as they are now obstructing the Navy Bill. It is believed the only outcome will be another election. Members are sleeping on jfche seats and prolonging their speeches by reading newspaper advertisements and telling Stories most irrelevant to the delate, THE NAVAL DEBATE. FEELING IN SOUTH AFRICA Heceived .7, 5.5 p.m. Capetown, March 7. Considerable feeling has been aroused over the naval debate, and there has been much discussion on the apparent inconsistency of Mr. Sauer's and General Botha's speeches. Mr. Sauer said that he feared that parts of the Empire were not wholly spontaneous, and he doubted if South Africa would follow Canada's policy of having Ministers at the Council of Defence. He felt that South Africa must do something to protect her trade routes. He pointed out that South Africa had contributed £930,000 to the British Navy, apart from half a million annually in the form of preferential duties. It was the primary duty of a country that wanted the Empire to find the means. The British and German armaments were absolutely wicked, and any encouragement would be unfortunate. Mr. Fichardt, an Orangian, contended that South Africa's present contribution was much too high, and asked whether negotiations on the line of General Botha's or Mr. Sauer's speech would be followed. Mr. Hertzog described the Empire as a sort of alliance of all the Dominions under Great Britain. He considered that the protection of trade was the first duty. .The defence of the country was the first essential to South Africa. He doubted whether the community had money enough to make a substantial gift. He vehemently protested against General Botha going to England. The Government should formulate its proposals and submit them to the House and then negotiate with England. Mr. Manlan pointed out that the Imperial Government had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in the Union. The question whether the Union should take over these works was impossible to decide without discussion with the Imperial Government.