N.Z. DEFENCES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 28 November 1912, Page 5

N.Z. DEFENCES.

QUESTION OF A NAVAL BASE. AUSTRALASIAN FLEET ADVOCATED. MR MASSET MAKES A STATEMENT. (Ihj Telegrupn,—j.~resa Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night. In a speech at the Harbour Board luncheon to-day, Admiral King-Hall said ho had been asked, is Auckland to bo a naval baseP There could, ho I said, be no doubt, that it mu.«t be a secondary base in the future., whatever the future naval policy of the Dominion might be. It was absolutely impossible for the Commonwealth of tho Dominion to do anything but support the Old Country, and this they would always do, for they knew tho Empire stood for freedom, liberty and justice, and the bonds binding them irrevocably to each other, though very light, were as strong as the finest tempered -.steel. He believed that in time —ho was only giving his personal opinion—they should have a Pacific Fleet comprising divisions from the Dominions whoso 'bores were washed by that ocean, and he saw ,no reason why a. beginning should not be made by the Dominions join- 1 I ing forccis and co-operating with the j Commonwealth in forming a Royal | Australasian Navy. There were no I insuperable difficulties in the vvav that 1 could not be overcome by very little tact and statesmanship. He added that lie thought tho question of building a Dreadnought dock big enough to take the largest men-of-war would soon have to be considered by the Harbour Board. i

j The Premier, replying to the toast of Parliament, revieAved the proposals regarding New Zealand as it r.t present stands, which includes the establishment in New Zealand waters, as a. unit of the China Squadron of two cruisers, three destroyers, and two submarines. "Tn my opinion," said Mr Massey, " the naval position is so important that it must he looked into by the people and Parliament of this country. Without disclosing Cabinet secrets, T will say that the Government of New Zealand is now communicating with the Tmpenal Government on the subject. Whatever happens, I am convinced that the people and Government of No v Zealand will do their duty to the Empire. (Loud and continued apphuse.)