NAVAL DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 31 October 1913, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE.

CABLE NEWS.

(Unitfd Pre&» A isoeiation--By Electric Telegraph—Copyright J.)

NEW ZEALAND'S POLICY.

(Received Oct. 30, 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 30.

The Daily Telegraph says that the naval defence policy propounded by the New Zealand Government has a suggestion of tentativeness. The question that suggests it-self is whether New Zealand can hope to maintain a separate navy of its own instead of co-operating with AustraliaThe maintenance of two distinct fleets would involve unnecessary expense and effort. It is doubtful whether New Zealand would find itself any better able, within the calculable future, to act alone than now. Besides, the countries would lie clos® together, as well as under on© flsg. New Zealand, in fact, is vcrymucb rearer Eastern Australia than *» Western Australia.,. Regarding control, New Zealand- opinion differ# from that which officially prevailed here when the Australian policy was formulated, and differs very commendably in the marked pieferenco it exhibits for one Imperial control, but Australia is not irrevocably pledged in that respect, and if a mutual arrangement were possible otherwise, no doubt it could be brought, itbowfc, and the two combine in Pacific, defence.

' HON. T. MACKENZIE'S VIEW. (Received Oct. 30, 10.i> a.m.) LONDON, Oct, 29. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, interviewed regarding the naval statement, declared that New Zealand's policy would have the effect of impressing the Imperial authorities with the necessity of meeting the widely-felt-wishes of Britain's overseas dominions for si more effective voice in Imperial affairs Representation rv the Defence Committee was not I solution, but it was a step f •• ■