THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8437, 8 May 1907, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON.

ADMIRAL AND OFFICERS ENTERTAINED, SPEECH BY . THE ACTING- ■' PREMIER, . . By Telegraph—Press -Association. WELLINGTON. May 7. The Admiral and officers, of the Australian Squadron were entertained at dinner by the members of the' Ministry, this evening. The Acting-Premier (Hon. W. HallJones) presided. ''Notwithstanding what has been said in Australia regarding the establishment of an Australian Navy under the Commonwealth, it cannot but be believed that Australians would be oniy-too willing to pay a sum more in proportion to the services "'•being rendered than is being paid at the present time." In these words the Acting-Premier emphasised, when proposing the toast of "Imperial Forces of the Crown," his conviction that New Zealand's interest lay in maintaining an Imperial fleet as a whole instead of establishing separate colonial fleets. Continuing, Mr Hall-Jones said that New Zealand and Australia were now paying some £200,000 a year towards the upkeep and cost of the Squadron. As a matter of fact that did not represent more than one-third of the cost of the Squadron. (Hear, hear, ano\applause). He had np hesitation in saying that we were not paying sufficient for the great services we were receiving. (Loud applause). While there must be some advantages in having an Australian Navy they could not get away from the- fact that under the modern conditions of fighting any enemy opposed to them would-have to concentrate its force. At,present the Imperial Navy pro- . bably outnumbered any two foreign powers. The enemy's fleet in any war would have to concsntrate either for attack or defence. That being so it would never do to leave vessels lying, out here doing nothing while their services were required elsewhere. (Loud applause). As far as he could see naval warfare meant finding out where the enemy was, and getting in as soon as possible, and that could only be done by having a control which would permit of vessels being moved to a point where their services were required. (Loud applause). They might rest assured that if the Australasian Squadron was removed from these waters no permanent injury could be inflicted on the, Empire as a whole so long as they could get to "the main force of the enemy and deal with it as he felt sure the Navy would do. (Loud applause). He believed he was expressing the opinion of the State as a whole in re-echoing the opinion expressed by the Premier before leaving for Home. The Premier would be justified in placing that view' before the Imperial Government while he was at Home, because he believed New Zealanders were prepared to pay a fair share for the work that was being done. Not one man in New Zealand would begrudge the cost. (Loud applause). There were some New Zealanders on ;the ship. (Admiral Fawkes: "Andjsome very good ones").: /'Yes, everything from New Zealand was good", continued Mr Hall-Jones. Admiral Fawkes had been so taken up with their qualifications that 41 Australians and New Zealanders had been sent Home to qualify in the high branches of gunnery and other practices for the higher positions in the service. (Loud applause): Admiral Fawkes, in replying, read a cablegram from Sir Joseph 1 Ward, at not bejng present. The speech-making did not commence until a late hour.

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