THE COLONIES AND THE NAVY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11545, 30 March 1903, Page 5

THE COLONIES AND THE NAVY.

VIEWS OF SIR JOSEPH WARD.

DEPRECATION OF COLONIAL NAVIES. United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 29th, 5.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 29. Tho "Sunday Times'' publishes an interview with Sir J. G. Ward on the questions of jocal and Imperial defence. Sir Joseph said it would be unwise for either Australia o: . New Zealand to undertake the raising of a local navy for local defence. Apart from the expanse it would be an intolerable burden. Australia and New Zealand would have to be defended in their commerce all the way from here to London; therefore British and Australian defences were so much em; problem that they could scarcely be eonsidored .separately. It was, ha thought, unlikely that Australasia would bo seriously threatened unless British power was broken, and in that event our navy would not avail i:s long. Tho great'sea light of the future would not be ieught in Australian waters. A local navy for local defence would not have taken any appreciable share in the defenco of the Empire, nor would it be entitled to a share in the glory of victory. It was an incontestable proposition that the Australian Squadron, to be fully effective, mi:st be entirely at the disposal of the British naval authorities. There was just i* possibility that an independent Navy mujht be the beginning of a movement towards separation from the Motherland. On the questions of naval defence and a preferential tariff, his views were entirely in line with those of Mr Seddon. They feaTed there might be an anti-Imperial under-current in the agitation for a local navy, as well as in the opposition to preferential trade.