The Daily News. FRIAY, APRIL 1, 1921. SHIPPING AND DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIAY, APRIL 1, 1921. SHIPPING AND DEFENCE.

For the British Empire, the maintenance of freedom and safety for the conveyance of people, produce and all articles of trade and commerce in transit across the high seas is a matter of vital importance. Self-evident as is this fact, the full extent of its significance was not realised until it was painfully demonstrated during the late war. An Empire that has its units far flung over the whole globe must necessarily regard communication by sea as its chief source of vitality, so that its main problem is how to provide for the necessary shipping facilities and their protection from hostile interference, as well as dislocation or the operation of prejudicial influences. The war emphasised with telling force and conviction the slenderness of the maritime thread, and brought into great prominence the splendid heroism of the men of the merchant service. Among the outstanding lessons of the war period and its aftermath was the need for organisation and control, as well as for a close co-operation between the navy and our merchant vessels, and it may confidently be assumed these lessons will bear fruit, particularly as the well being and security of the whole Empire rests on a satisfactory solution of the problems of shipping and defence. iThe question of Empire Defence is expected to form the chief matter for discussion at the forthcoming conference of Dominion Premiers in London, so that it is most desirable that the members of the conference shall approach the subject from the dual point of view—naval and commercial- Necessarily this can only be accomplished if the delegates realise that if the problem, is to be satisfactory solved there must be just as definite a policy with regard to a nationalised merchant service as in the case of Imperial defence. In commenting on the New Zealand Naval Board, the London Morning Post says its constitution ria a atML.oi amt S“4

the\ opinion is expressed that one of the first duties of the board will be to prepare a scheme for participation in Imperial defence. It so happens that at last the producers of the Dominion have been spurred into action, owing to/he high freights, the purport of which is to acquire suitable ships for the overseas carriage of exports and imports. The fundamental proposal is the establishment by legislation of a Mercantile Shipping Board, at least one half of the members thereof being elected by representatives of the principal exporting industries, the remaining members (including the chairman) being nominated by the Crown. If this scheme materialises —and it would certainly seem in the best interests of the country- that it should—it would appear desirable that a portion of the government nominees should be members of the Naval Board. By this means there could be evolved a close co-opera-tion hsetween the naval and mercantile fleets that should prove of inestimable service both in times of peace and war, the mercantile fleet being not only utilised for training purposes, but so constructed as to form a naval reserve. From every point of view such art arrangement would be advantageous, but the main considerations would be the security of the producers and the economy ensuing from the practical co-operation of these two services on which the country defends. Experience has proved that the problems of defence and ocean transport are so closely interwoven that only by a satisfactory system of co-opera-tion and co-relation can they be solved. The proposals outlined by the representatives of the producing interests, and supported by the Premier yesterday, may be regarded as being on the right lines to meet the demands of Dominion trade, but it would seem that much greater benefit would accrue if this question ■ of ocean transport were considered in its Imperial aspect as in its local bear-j ings. The opportunity presents itself of placing the Dominion and its trade on a sure basis, and it would seem advisable to utilise this opportunity to the utmost in order to secure that unity which is essential to the welfare of the Empire and its units.