THE NAVAL BASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 167, 13 July 1912, Page 4

THE NAVAL BASE.

A cable comment which reached us yesterday from Sydney -on the establishment of the new naval base at Auckland contains two points of obvious public interest. In the first place, it is stated that the transfer means a trade loss to Sydney of anything from £80,000 to £100.000 a year. It is possible that we would feel more inclined to condole with Sydney if her loss were not our gain. Under the circumstances, we may fairly invite our readers to contemplate with satisfaction the substantial material advantages that will accrue to Auckland when once the naval depot and stores are located here. But this leads us to the second point that we desire to emphasise. • A representative of one of Sydney's largest industries is so distresed at the prospect of Sydney's loss that he has devised a plan by which it can be to some extent, if not entirely, obviated. He suggests that the Commonwealth shouM submit to the Imperial authorities .a scheme for provisioning the Imperial and Australian warships jointly. so that tenders could be offered for both together. This is rather a good idea from the Australian point of view, because, quite apart from the obvious .advantages that would be enjoyed by the large Australian firms in such a competition, it would lie manifestly impossible for Xew Zealand merchants to tender against the Australians for supplies to be delivered at Perth or Sydney or Brisbane with any chance of success. The ingenious gentleman who is responsible for this expedient is inclined to think that the odds would be strongly in favour of Sydney, or at least Australia keeping practically all of the trade that she now controls. Xo doubt; but it can hardly be expected that New Zealand would acquiesce quite so cheerfully in this scheme. It is not probable that the Imperial authorities would entertain the idea. But in any case it behove* our own Government to keep a careful eye upon the situation and to prevent the Dominion in general and Auckland in particular from losing any part of the benefits that we may reasonably expect to secure through the transfer of the nav__ base from the other side of the Tasran-n Pea. Sydney has had her opportunity, and she should lie prepared to let us enjoy our turn, now that it has come.