The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1921. IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1921. IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

In his reply at the close of the debate in the House on the report of the Premiers’ Conference, Mr. Massey touched on several points of outstanding importance. His explanation of the duties of H.M.S. Chatham, and the financial liability of the Dominion connected with the warship while in New Zealand waters, should clear away all misconception on the matter. The presence of that vessel in this part of the Empire is mainly due to patrol duties in order to police the islands of the Pacific. That one warship can perforin this duty indicates that not only is there quietude in this part of the high seas, but an absence of lawlessness. Above all this unit of the Empire’s Navy signifies that the whole of the first arm of Imperial defence is at the back of her if occasion requires. She is therefore an emblem of Imperial power, and, as such, has all the respect accorded to her presence that a judge or policeman receives in civil life. Expensive the Chatham may be, but certainly no “toy.” As. giving young New Zealanders an opportunity to enter upon a naval career, the warship is useful, though that is merely a side line that need not be stressed, except to emphasise the fact that the Dominion’s duty with regard to the Navy cannot be fully carried out unless it contributes to the personnel as well as to the capital cost. The point that Mr. Massey rightly stressed was that no money would be saved by the Dominion if the ship were sent back, “because if we did not spend it on her it would become our contribution to the Nayy. ” What was being done with the Chatham, added the Premier, was the right thing, and he was glad to think she was proving such a successful ship. In regard to New Zealand’s naval policy, it may be noted that a recent Press cable from London gives expression to the Admiralty’s opinion that the Dominion’s assistance in the naval defence of the Empire would be equally effective whether as a monetary contribution for capital ships, building destroyers for themselves, or providing bases. This would seem to imply that such a contribution is over and above the cost of maintaining a warship in New Zealand waters, hence the desirability of fixing the yearly amount which will cover the total that the Dominion may justly be relied upon to pay as her quota of naval expense. Mr. Massey’s remarks on the subject of diplomacy and the arrangement of treaties show that on this matter he is fully impregnated with the very conservative traditions of the British Foreign Office, the laws of which follow the example of the Medes and Persians in their immutability. While open diplomacy is impossible, the trend of a large section of opinion in the present day is adverse to treaties being concluded before the peoples concerned have any opportu-! nity of expressing their views thereon. At the same time, to resort to a referendum on such matters would be a gross absurdity. All that can fairly be demanded is that, before any international or other important treaty is entered into, the Parliaments of the countries interested should be consulted and their decisions given full weight, the Dominions, as full partners in the Empire, having an

equal voting power with the Motherland. Democratic extremists and others also may consider that the outstanding feature of Mr. Massey’s remarks is to be found in the reference to the position, of the King. After dismissing with commendable brevity and decision the intervention of Ambassadors and the clumsy and unworkable expedient of an Empire Parliament, Mr. Massey emphasised with convincing force that there, could be only one means of approaching the King, and that was through the Prime Minister of Britain. It may, therefore, be assumed that the old method of the Dominions communicating through the Colonial Secretary has at last been discarded —a reform long overdue. If, however, Dominion Premiers are to be in direct touch with the head of the Home Government, the logical sequence would he that it was time the office of Governor-Gen-eral should be abolished and the money entailed by the present system diverted to a more useful channel. If this reform were instituted it would be the crowning stone of democracy. All that is needed is to follow the course which Mr. Massey rightly insists on as the only means of approaching the King, through the British Premier —simple and effective, besides being in accord with the dominant spirit that now welds the Empire together. Possibly Mr. Massey may not be prepared to go this length, but sooner or later thither will the will of the people trend.