Our Local Navy

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 21 February 1914, Page 5

Our Local Navy

REFERENCE IN THE "TIMES." A CHANGE OF PiiLH'Y, By Cable —Press Association—Copyrig'il Received 20, 10.30 p.m. Leidou, February 20. The Times regrets the disagreement between New Zealand and the Admiralty, and says the change of policy was produced through the failure to provide Pacific defence in a. way to make New Zealand feel secure. SYDNEY SUN'S -ASSUMPTION. CONCEIT WITH AUSTRALIA. Received 21, 12.40 a.m. Sydney. February 20. Appropos New Zealand's note to the Admiralty on naval matters, the Sun's Melbourne correspondent says thai New Zeaand, happily and appropriately, has come as a factor in the Australian Cabinet's considerations as to what is to be done about the Cockatoo Island dock. New Zealand has at last, begun to grope her way towards a local navy. Here, then, by the end of next year or early the following year, will be'within tin: South Pacific another light cruiser. Here, moreover, will be the beginning of what must inevitably bo a rapidly developed New Zealand navy, Here, therefore, is another reason why Australia should not depart from the plans and recommendations to lay'down a fourth cruiser. Australians will wish New Zeahinders the best of luck in the initiation of their local navy, and will await the moment when they can salute the New Zealand cruiser. Negotiations arc still being put before the dominions. Vessels have been ordered, but now that the Massey Government has declared for a local navy policy, it is only a matter of time for the two sister fleets to manoeuvre together in the South Seas, and ultimately the two naval stations will be linked us one. With the opening of the splendid new Australian Naval College at Jervois Bay early next year, it. seems t suitable time for the renewal of lite invitation to New Zealand to send her boys to be trained as naval officers. Although the actual inauguration of NewZealand's navy still depends largely on the Imperial Defence Conference early next year, the main fact that Sew Zealand has declared that she must have modern cruisers in her waters and will see. that she gets tliein. has to be considered in connection with the Australian ship-building programme.