NAVAL POLICY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17981, 26 January 1924, Page 14

NAVAL POLICY.

NEW ZEALAND'S CONTRIBUTION.

SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE URGED

The annual conference of New Zealand branches of the Navy League will be held at Auckland on January 30th and 31st. Numerous remits will come „ :j for consideration, including quite a number of important ones dealing with N.j-.v Zealand's policy of contribution, Navv League policy, educational propaganda. naval recruiting and training, - to. The principal remits are as under, the- name of the branch being ..uhiii parentheses in each instance:

Policy of Contribution. 'That, while we are reassured by the V-'.v Zealand Government's increased <-on tribillion to naval lunds that tne\ arc .seized with the urgent necessity of maintaining a sufficiently strong naval force for the protection of our trade routes and coast lines, wo woula .strongly emphasise the necessity and justice'of our Government assuming a fair proportion of the cost of this naval defence and submit that the faire-st basis is per capita contribution at the inline rate as in tho Old Country.' A ii:-k!and. I

"'That tho conference heartily approve.-- of the action of tho New Zealand Government in voting £SCO,OISO for expenditure on naval defence for the year 1923-24."—(Canterbury.) "That in tho opinion of this conference it is advisable that the Navy l.eat'ue branches .should establish discussion centres in their own townsfor the purpose of considering all questions alfectinn; the welfare of the Empire, particularly naval, military, and air [oreo matters." —(Wellington.) Educational Propaganda.

"That tho Navy League should stress the importance of maintaining a navy uf sufficient power to provide adequate educational propaganda." "That it is highly desirable that the system of educational work in connexion with the Navy League be unified throughput the Dominion."— (Auckland.) "That in tho opinion of this branch

the tcachinc; of history and specially the naval history of the Empire, should / be given a more prominent place in our primary and secondary schools than is the case at present."—(Canterbury.)

"That with reference to the Director

of Education's letter of August 14th, .'922, to the secretary of the Navy League, Wellington, this conference should arrange for a series of articles on the Navy to be published in the 'School Journal.' " —(Canterbury.) "That steps be taken with a view to tho administration and exhibition of naval iilms in tho Dominion . being placed in the hands of the Navy League branches."—(Napier.) "That a standing committee be ap-

pointed to consider the prospects of instituting .1 League publication in tho Dominion additional to 'The Navy.' " (Napier.)

Naval Eccruitiilg and Training. "That the conference be asked to cons'ider tho best means by which the different branches of the Navy League throughout the Dominion can, when necessary, assist recruiting for the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy." —(Canterbury.) "That this conference of the branches of the Navy League throughout the Dominion of New Zealand desires to help tho naval authorities in every way, obtaining sufficient boys to keep up the required quota for the New Zealand Division of the Boyal Navy." —(Wellington.)

"That branches do their ; utmost to encourage and promote naval recruiting." —(Napier.) "That immediate steps should bo taken to provide the necessary material and train officers and men for the local defence of our harbours and coasts. This is a duty which the Imperial Navy can never undertake, and which must be provided for from local resources. Tho necessary material can largely be obtained from tho Imperial Navy by loan, purchase, or gift. The officers and mon can be drawn from amongst the local yachtsmen, but .they must liavo the necessary craft and equipment,'and it will be two or three yejlrs before any local efficiency can be looked for. All this will cost a good deal, but, at present, our coasts and harbours are quite defenceless against the attacks of submarines, mine-layers, and similar craft."

Air Force and Sea Scouts. '' That the confewace affirms tho general principle that, Swing to the geographical position of New Zealand, the maintenance of air forces to safeguard these islands against attack from siri enemy nation is unnecessary, that such resources as are available for such work be expended on the provision of naval aircraft, which, together with any destroyers and submarines stationed in these waters mulit be under naval control;and direction.''—(Canterbury.) '' That this conference of the branches of the Navy League in New Zealand urges upon tho Government the necessity for .an air force policy as an absolute essential, part of • any system of defence, • and that the services be obtained, on loan from the British Govnient for a period of aoout two years of one of the most able and' efficient Naval Air Force experts."—("Wellington.) "That, in the opinion of this conference, it is advisable that the Sea Scout movement be supported by the Nafvy League.''—(Picton.) "That the question of the Dominion Sea Scouts organisation be considered." —(Napier.)

Singapore Base. "That the branches of the Navy League in New Zealand strongly support the Singapore base, and urge that it shall be completed in a shorter time than tho one at present arranged, namely, twelve years."—(Wellington.) "That it is desirable to organise the work of the Navy League for Trafalgar Day throughout the Dominions. both as to a supply of visiting speakers and also the subject or subjects to which the conference most urgently advises special attention to be called on that day as well as for the essays."—(Marton.) Naval Overseas Belief Wort. '' That it should be a recommendation from this conference thai all branches or the Navy League in New Zealand should make the helping of sailors' dependants an important part of their work. Tpis is particularly important at the present time, as need exists among the demobilised men of the Royal Navy as well as among the dependants of those sailors—naval and mercantile marine—who lost their lives in wartime."—(Wellington.)