A JOINT NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 9

A JOINT NAVY.

SHOULD HEW ZEALASD AGREE? ATJCKLAJTDERS SAY HO. The suggestion that emaTiaterj from the Anstraßan Prime Minister (Mr Fjsher) a day or two ago, to the effect that New Zealand and Australia might be linked together for naval purposes, was referred to some prominent public men in Auckland by a "Star" reporter this morning, and with general consent they discouraged the proposal Most of them gave the all-meaning smile which indicated that as New Zealand, and Auckland i a particular had been favoured by the locating, of the Australasian naval base in these waters, it would be distinctly foolish to be led away by some less advantageous scheme. The president of the Navy League (Mr. W. J. Napier) said that there was no chance of the thinking people of New Zealand agreeing to such a pro-posal-as that made by Mr. Fisher. The Imperial headquarters' could not for Admiralty purposes he in Sydney, which centre would be the headquarters for the local navy. " It was not at all likely that New Zealand would give up its higher rank in favour of beoonrh)" an appendage of Australia, whose local navy would be mainly stationed on the Australian coast. "The agreement, winch has been ratified bv the Imperial autliorities," said Mr. Napier, "provides for a certain number of ships being kept in New Zealand waters with frequent visits from the main Pacific fleet.' Is it at all probable that New Zealand would forfeit these advantages even if Australia proposed to place, say, two small vessels- of the proposed Australian squadron over here ? IJven if the Opposition get into power, I feel satisfied that they would nevef face the outburst of hostility which would nljnosfc surely follow if they proposed that for naval purposes Now Zealand should become merely an appendage of Australia."