NAVAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1920, Page 3

NAVAL DEFENCE.

NEW ZEALAND'S POLICY. THE GOVERNMENT AND LORD JELLICOE'S PROPOSALS. It is understood that Cabinet, with Admiral Lord Jellicoe's report on the naval defence of the Pacific before it, ars been discussing New Zealand's future naval policy, and that an important announcement in connection therewith may be made within a very few days. At the present time, £IOO,OOO a year is the Dominion's annual vote for naval defence purposes, but under Admiral Jellicoe's scheme it is suggested that our division of the Par Eastern Fleet should consist of three light cruisers, six submarines, a submarine mother-ship, and a naval air school, at a cost of £357,100 the first year, increasing in five years to a yearly charge of £1,188,000. In view of the very heavy financial obligations resulting from the war, and the great arrears to be made up in regard to public works and housing, it is considered that the Government will, for the present, adopt only an instalment of the scheme. Its plans are stated to be well advanced. Provision is to be made for training New Zealanders for the Navy and for the necessary co-ordination of defence by land and sea; but, in regard to aviation, the Government, it is understood, is not willing to go in for any big schemes. In the meantime, reliance will be placed on New Zealand aviators trained during the war, and on the development of a not too ambitious aerial service in connection with the Postal Department—Wellington Times.