NAVY LEAGUE CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14473, 30 September 1912, Page 3

NAVY LEAGUE CONFERENCE.

STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY. Mr C. J. Treleaven, secretary of the Navy Leaguo Conference recently held at Wellington, returned to Christchurch on Friday. Discussing, tho work of the Conferenco with a "Press" representative, Mr Treleavon said that his Excellency the Governor, in his speech when opening the Conference, referred to the fact that the people vi Great Britain were paying £-15.000,000, out of a total expenditure on the Royal j Navy of £45,000,000, for the year, and he asked how long they would be able to pay such a disproportionate amount. This was a point that the Navy League has been trying to impress upon the people of New Zealand for some time. He recognised, however, that if New Zealand should, in return for the advantages of Empire, assume with the other self-governim; Dominions greater responsibility in connection with Imperial defence, she should have an adequate measure of representation on an Imperial Council Tho Hon. Jas. Allen,. Minister of Defence, who followed his Excellency, in referring to Australia having laid the foundations for a fleet cf her own. stated that wo wouldsoon have several ships of the Royal Navy stationed .n New Zealand waters with headquarters at Auckland, instead of Sydney, and he. could not think that any self-respect-ing New Zealander would appreciate for long the position that the ships were officered and manned by other than New Zralanders and maintained mainly by British taxpayers' moncj. "A thing not generally known," said Mr Treleaven, "is tlmt part of New Zealand's contribution to the Royal Navy comes back in the shape of "increased pay to New Zealandcrs serving therein, who leave the Service after live years, with an average of £250 apiece, in addition to tho Tmperial rate of pay which they havo been drawing during that time, and the Navy League is urging upon the New Zealand Government that all men wfch Royal Navy training, discharged in New Zealand, who are not in any Royal Navy reserve, should be registered, so that their whereabouts would be known in case of need. A suggestion was made that Chambers of Commerce and prominent citizens should be approached by branches with a view to their assistance being obtained m attracting attention to naval matters. This idea, if taken up by gentlemen able to speak on subjects concerning tho Empire, would do an immense amount of good. "Conferences are of great value, and as the objects of the League cannot be disseminated in New Zealand otherwise than by having committees at work in tho various cities and towns carrying out their propagandism in the manner best suited to the locality, it is well that representatives of branches should meet annually, as it prevents the development of a too parochial feeling."