NAVAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14525, 29 November 1912, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

A CANADIAN RESOLUTION.

(Received November 23th, 9.50 p.m. OTTAWA, November 27. An amendment was moved to the Address-to-the-Throno:—"That Parliamont is not justified in imposing on the Canadian people obligations for tho general defonco of the Empire, so long as the British Government retains exclusive control of Imperial and international affairs." A livoly debate is anticipated.

NO MODIFICATION OF PROGRAMME.

STATEMENT BY MR CHURCHILL.

LONDON, November 28. In tho Houso of Commons, replying to Mr A. Lee, Mr Churchill made it clear that there would be no modification in the naval programme as tho result of the Malay States' offer of a ship, which was entirely additional. Mr Churchill added that tho battlecruiser New Zealand was being quickly completed, and would so to New Zealand some months earlier than was expected. She wae practically in commission at tho present time.

ADMIRAL KING-HALL'S SPEECH

(SrEOTAL TO "THE FRESS"V

AUCKLAND, November 28. Mr W. J. Naper, president of the local Navy League, who has been a closo student of the naval defence question, asked for his opinion, of the utterances of the Admiral yesterday, said:—"l trust there wiil bo no coqueting with Mr Andrew Fisher's idea, supported oven as it is by Admiral King-Hall. Wo must defiii.tely pronounce for the continuance of the existing arrangements of a cash contribution to the Imperial Navy, Auckland to be a sub-base for tlio Pacific fleet. I think, however, that our contribution should be considerably increased to at least £2j0,0U0 annually. By this I refer, of course, to our direofc contr-bu-tion, irrespective of what interest tve ai<j paying in respect of the Dreadnought. We made that gift, and there is an end of it. The inero fact thai we 'borrowed tho money is no concern of the imperial Government; £250,000 would only mean 5s per head of thf population, as against 2Qs paid by every man, woman and ch-ld iv Great Britain. Our trade this year will probabiy bo about £50,0<X),000, so thac is but an insurance premium of about oneIbalf per cent., a risk which, no insurance company wouid accept. I would iiko to say this," concluded Mr Napier, "if Great Britain, Canada, Austral:'* and New Zealand created a Pacific fleet, controlled by a Pacific Defence Committee, wick, each of those States contributing pro rata to its upkeep, that would bo a practicable proposition, and one which tho people of this country might, perhaps, be induced to accept."

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGKAIJ.)

AUCKLAND, November 28. When spoken to this morning respecting tho probability of a rearrangoinont of the Naval Defence scheme in Dominion waters, the Primo Minister said it was impossible at present for him to discuss the situation publicly, beyond saying that thero was a'distinct feeling in New Zealand that the present arrangement with the Imperial Government was inadequate. "But as to what will be done, 1 can only say," Mr Massey added, "that nothing will be dono without due and proper consideration. In fact, nothing can be dono without an amendment of the present Act, which means that the whole position must be thoroughly discussed by Parliament before apy new course is adopted. By that time tho Hon. Mr Allen will havo returned, after having consulted with the Imperial authorities, pnd we shall bo in a position to take tnp country more closely into our confidence."