NAVAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14524, 28 November 1912, Page 10

NAVAL DEFENCE.

THE DOMINIONS' FLEETS.

?n ADMIRAL KING-HALL'S VIEWS. nNEW ZEALAND'S POLICY. lIV ,** (PRESS AS3OCIATION TELEGRAM.) 3e AUCKLAND, November 27. Admiral Kins-Hall was entertained x- at luncheon to-day by the Auckland id Harbour Board in honour of his visit to to Auckland for the last time in "* H.M.S. Drake, which leaves for Homo in January next. Among other Fleet nt officers present were:—Commander y, Norton, of 11.M.5. Drake, and Captain ie Le Hunt Ward, of H.M.S. Torch. Into j eluded among tho guests at the table ro ,of the chairman (Mr J. 11. Gunson) were: —The Prime Minister (the Hon. j W. F. Massey) and the Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr). i- In proposing the toast of "The Brid tish Navy," the chairman expressed his i- gratification at being honoured with the w - presence.jOf the Admiral of the Station, it A similar function had not occurred . r since 188$, when tho Board entertained j. Admiral Fairfax at the opening of the ' s Calliope Dock. c In responding to the toast, the Adt _ miral said: —"I very much appre--1 ciate the compliment that you have • j shown mc in'entertaining mo to lunch, . and 1 take this opportunity of express- [, ing my great regret that not only this *• year, but also last year, my visits to " ■ New Zealand with my Uagship and with tho whole squadron, which included a fortnight's stay at Auckland and corresponding visits to other ports, have been curtailed and cancelled owing to the' exigencies of service. Last year it was owing to the Admiralty telegraphing that the. Powerful must go to Colombo to meet tho l>rake, and this year because I have lately received orders that the Drake has to be in England by the middle of February. Other changes have taken place on tho station, the Challenger going Homo and tho Encounter being turned over to the Commonwealth. I have been asked, is Auckland to be a naval base? There can bo no doubt that it must bo the secondary base in future, whatever the future naval policy of tho Dominion may be. ■ What •is to bo the future policy? .Is it to be tho same as in the past? Has the international condition f>o changed during tho last year or so that it may be necessary to reconsider the whole question? We start with the great fact that there is one King and one Empire, and that there must .bo in war and also in peace—as to training, discipline, etc. —one great Imperial Fleet, composed of different divisions provided 1 by tho self-governing colonies and controlled by them in time of peace, and placed at the disposal of the British Government in - time of war, by the consent of tho respective- Governments. Is it conceivable-that this consent will ever bo withheld? It is impossible for the reasons first, that tho ties binding tho Mother Country and her children together are so strong, so affectionate, so lasting, that one nnd the other are prepared to spend their last shilling and last drop of blood in standing by ono.another, and for tho defence of the Empire. And then, gentlemen, is it possible for, shall we say, the Commonwealth and the Dominion to stand aside, at any rato for tho next 30 years, if ever? Why, if they did so, it Would mean to them the loss of independence' and national existence. It is absolutely impossible for the Commonwealth or tho Dominion to do anything but to support tho Old Country, and this they will always do, for they know, that tho Empire stands for freedom, .liberty, and justice, and ■Che bonds binding us irrevocably to each other, though very light, are as strong as the finest tempered steel. ' I believe, in time, and I am now only giving my own personal opinion, that wo shall- have a Pacific Fleet comprising divisions from the Dominions whose shores anY washed by that ocean, and I sco no reason why a beginning should not bo made by the Dominion in joining forces and co-operating with the Commonwealth in forming a Royal Australasian "Navy. There are no insuperable difficulties in tho way that cannot be overcome by a very little tact and statesmanship. There is no necessity to enter into details, but. wo must be all up and doing. New Zealand has been always ready to help; and I am sure, if necessary, will do more. New Zealand is saturated with the naval and also the Imperial spirit, and alwa3's has been an ardent supporter of naval power. We at Home pay over £1 per head for naval defence. The Commonwealth pay 10s, and the Dominion ss. but as I stated at tho Lord Mayor's dinner at Melbourne, to maintain a strong naval force a largo population. is necessary, and there lies tho crux of the whole question, and there I will leave the question, as I cannot take up your time any longer. I will add only that I think the question of building a Dreadnought dock, big enough to take the largest men-of-war and merchant vessels, will soon have to be considered by this very progressive and active Harbour Board, who have done so much, and are doing so much, for the port of Auckland, which has now taken its place amongst the foremost porta of tho Southern Hemisphere, and is a very different place to what I remember it some forty-fire years ago. I hare read tho annual report for this year, and congratulate you all on the steady progiess and prosperity of. the port. I also beg to thank you for your kind hospitality, and am only sorry that this may be my last visit to Auckland." The Mayor proposed the toast of "The Government of New Zealand." The Prime Minister, in responding to tho toast, expressed his pleasure ;n assisting to do honour to the Admiral. Auckland had always had a soft spot for a naval uniform, and in Admiral King-Hall they had a sailor, of the highest aims, and well worthy of the best traditions o£ the British '■ Navy. (Applause). As to the Government, they were working to the best of the.r I ability in doing the greatest good for the country. Although there was certainly a little financial difficulty in meeting all requirements, he believed I that the outlook was particularly good, I and he believed, after the summer, the [ country would be in a good position to face the winter with equanimity. (Hear, hear)/ ! Coming to tho naval question, Mr Massev reviewed the proposal with regard' to New Zealand as it at present stands, which includes the establishment in New Zealand waters as a unit of the China Squadron, two cruisers of the Bristol type, three ■ destroyers, and two submarines. "In my opinion," declared the Prime Minister, "the naval position is so important that it must be looked into by the , people and Parliament of this country. It is in such a position that, it requires to be reconsidered, and, without disclosing Cabinet secrete, 1 will -.ay this, that tho Government of New Zealand is now in communication with : the Imperial Government on the sub- ! ject but whatever happens, I am convinced that the people and Governmej.t of New Zealand will do their duty to the Empire to which' they belong." (Loud and continued applause).