PACIFIC FLEET.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 5

PACIFIC FLEET.

HINTS OF THE PUNS, MODERN' NAVAL UNIT. NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter,;/ Wellington, Last Night. An interesting discussion on naval defence occupied the House for several hours to-day. Mr. Wilford, deputy-Leader of the Opposition, said that the proposal to spend £200,000 annually on the upkeep of the cruiser Chatham was unwarranted, unnecessary and absolutely useless. Parliament, he said, had not been given any opportunity to discuss Lord Jellicoe's report on naval policy. The Government, in a light-handed fashion, had committed the country to a costly and useless! naval policy. The House had heen given no chanco to discuss Lord Jellicoe's report, or to express an opinion on naval policy. "TIIO hon. gentleman has put the position most unjustly and unfairly," said Mr. Massey. "He has raised the whole party question in connection with the cruiser Chatham." Mr. Massey insisted that the House had received an opportunity to discuss the report on last year's Estimates, and a further opportunity had been promised this session.

To say that the cruiser would he useless vras to neglect the lessons of the war. The German raider Woolf had come into New Zealand water, and had destroyed three valuable ships—the Port Kembla, the Wimmera, and the Wairuna. The raider probably would not have come if the Chatham had been here. Mr. Wilford: They would have sent a ship fit to beat the Chatham. Mr. Massev retorted that this argument was not sound. The Germans had sent the ftmden, which bad not been fit to beat the Sydney. All the German raiders had been inferior to the Chatham or the Sydney, but they had cost New Zealand nineteen valuable ships. The Chatham was being, given to the Dominion free of capital cost.The vote was for maintenance, find lis believed tho cruiser would be very useful at once .in connection with the Islands, while it would be most valuable in ease of war.

No naval authority in the world had yet stated that the submarines could take the place of cruisers and battleships. People who, like himself, had seen a. destroyer himtinsr a submarine, would realise that the under-water craft had not one chance in a thousand in an encountei with a fast and well armed destroyer or cruiser. He did not believe that the people of New Zealand wowld be wise to pin their faith to submarines. The Empire's greatest* need during the war had been cruisers. "This erriisor will not. be the only British warship in the Pacific." added Mr. Massey. "It will join with the Australian ships. There will be two British ships as well as this one coming into New Zealand waters, and there will lie several destroyers and submarines Most of all there will be battleships and battle cruisers. Tam not giving away any secret in saying that, but I cannot possibly give any further information at present.

"It is not fair to suggest that we arc reiving for defence on one cruiser in our own waters. The Chatham will he only one part and a very small part of the Emnire's naval defence forces in the Pacific." The question was whether or not the Dominion was going to do its duty by taking a part of the burden of naval defence.

A LOCAL NAVY OPPOSED. LABOR AGAINST MILITARISM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Continuing the discussion on naval policy in tho evening, Mr. Mitchell thought it was necessary to have cruisers as well as submarines, even though the amount at the upkeep of the Chatham was more than New Zealand was at present paying. But even that was not really }few Zealand's full share of the cost of naval defence, and keeping the seas free.

The ITon. C. J. Parr said Lord Jellicoe Imd already pointed out that New Zealand must contribute a unit to tlie Pacific Fleet. It was for the beginning of that policy that the Estimates provided. In the event of war the New Zealand unit would combine with the Australian, Canadian, and English units: of tho China station to meet, any enemy likely to threaten a British country in the Pacific. New Zealand's proportion of this scheme would be five per cent., and this vote provided for the beginning of a scheme which Lord Jellicoe suggested should bo completed within six years. Mr. Lysnar objected to the establishment of an independent New Zealand Navy like that of Australia, because this Dominion's population was too small. He believed it would be better to increase tho monetary contribution to the Imperial Navy to the ,satne proportionate cost per head as the people of England paid—about £2. Mr. Holland oppused anything that would lead to militarism. This vote was for the beginning of a naval defence scheme. What was it going to lead to ? Mr. Holland disagreed with those who thought tliey saw a menace in the Japanese peonle to the welfare of Pacific countries. The Japanese did not thrive under colonisation schemes. Mr. AVilford considered that in the event of wnr the enemy would strike at the great arterial sea routes, and not. at small communities, such as New Zealand. The only proper contribution of the Dominion to the Empire naval defence scheme was a. financial contribution. New Zealand would thus gain more than by having a second class cruiser here. Tho Prime Minister said it was not an attemot to establish a local navy. We must have defence, and he believed this proposal was the best means of securing that end. Sir Heaton Rhodes (Minister of Desaid that for many years he thought the best plan was for New Zealand to pay a contribution to Britain, but lie had changed his ideas and thought the only thing to be done now was to start with tho scheme propounded by Lord Jellicoe. Mr. Parry complained that this and other Government failed to Tedeem the promises to the people that the late war would end war. Although we had only just emerged from the greatest wax in history it wag now proposed to go on preparing for another war. The intaraikttaLftl working f JwiISUL.