COLONIAL NAVAL DEFENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13528, 9 November 1911, Page 4

COLONIAL NAVAL DEFENCE.

Tub decisions of Australia and of Canada to establish and maintain navies of their own are entirely approved by Admiral W. H. Henderson, who,.haying retired, is now travelling through Australasia. He is the eldest brother of Admiral Sir' Reginald Henderson, whoso recommendations for the naval defence of Australia have been adopted by the Commonwealth Government. Discussing the subject at Auckland, Admiral Henderson said that he regarded the defence schemes adopted in Australia and New Zealand as perfectly safe. Such arrangements were absolutely uoccsaarydf the people were to defend the magnificent heritage which they possessed from any nation which might cast envious eyes upon it. Until tho Empire was united for the defence of its component parts the only possible way of providing for the protection of large colonics such as Australia and Canada 'seemed to be that the people immediately concerned must make their own arrangements. They could -not be expected to provide large sums for expenditure by the Imperial Go vernmant unless they word given representation, and at present'there seemed to be little chance of that representation being obtained. In these circumstances h® wag ■ satisfied that Australia had acted wisely in'determining to establish a navy of its own, and> thus avoid many of the difficulties with which the problem of Imperial defence , was’ hedged. about. Tho Commonwealth’ would naturally meet with difficulties; it' had already-been suggested thab sufficient;mep would,riot be available to man her warships.'That question would be solved as the country’s population expanded. and in the meantime ns many men as were wanted could bo obtained from the Homeland. • “New Zealand, with its smaller population, is in a different position,” Admiral Henderson added. Ho believed it had* acted wisely in deciding to continue to contribute to the maintenance of the British navy instead of attempting to provide for the naval defence of the Dominion by individual efforts.