OUR NAVY SHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 11

OUR NAVY SHIPS.

A CERTAIN "HONOURABLE AIffiANGEMENT." In the House of Representatives yesterday the Prime Minister replied to tho following question by the Leader of tho Opposition (Sir Joseph Ward):— "Whether tho 'British Government informed the New Zealand Government in writing of their decision to alter an honourable arrangement niado with the Primo Minister of New' Zealand in writing on August 18, 1909, undertaking to havo two Bristol cruisers, tlireo destroyers, and two submarines dispatched to and to remain in New Zealand waters, aiid if any protest in writing or otherwise against such ■ breach of mi honourable arrangement was -made by the Now Zealand 'Government ?"

The reply of the Primo Minister ..was as follows:—"The matter is dealt with in tho statement regarding naval defence laid on the table of the House on October' 28, The following: extracts therefrom sot' out the position: Up to tho time of the Defonce Minister's visit little or nothing had been done by tho Admiralty to give effect to their part of tho 1909 agreement, and an intimation was given to him by the Imperial authorities that the position had changed so materially that it was not considered advisable to carry out tho agreement or to send to Now. Zealand the ships referred to in the correspondence botweou Mr. M'Kenna and Sir Joseph Ward. . .. Tho New.Zealand Government, after duo consideration, camo : to tho conclusion that-tho proposal for two light- cruisers was too great a dei parture from tho 1909 agreement, and approached the Admiralty asking that two cruisers of the Bristol type should be substituted for the two light cruisers, in which case tho Government would ask Parliament to provide an additional £50,000, thus making the £100,000 now provided up to £150,000 per annum. This offer, has not been accepted, and the following extract from a telegram dated October 2 from tho Secretary of State, will, I think, explain itself: — " 'It was confidently anticipated in 1909 that stationing of the Bristols in New Zealand waters could be arranged without interfering with the general strategic disposition of naval strength necessary in the interests of tho Em- < pirc as a whole. Available Bristols aro required elsewhere ; in particular, two havo been sent temporarily to the East India and China Stations respectively. At present they would be superfluous in New Zealand waters, as- there aro no possible enemy ships of equal speed to be dealt with there.' Sir Joseph Ward said that tho British Government had'given an honourable undertaking in writing to do a certain thing and he had nover known them to break an agreement. The Hon. W. H. Herries: They havo done so in this ease.

Sir Joseph Ward said that he was greatly surprised to hear it.

"Gentleman" was the name of a man lined by the Stratford (England) magistrate for swearing at a woman. At an exhibition of pets at Clncton-on-Sea tho exhibits numbered over 100, ranging from a donkey to a toad. Tho latter took .the prize for the oddest exhibit.