More Money for the Navy.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 28 November 1925, Page 16

More Money for the Navy.

Unanimously yesterday, and "by " acchimation," the Chamber of Commerce Conference in Dunedin expressed itself in favour of a bigger vote for the Navy. The Dominion's contribution at present is 8s a head, and in a L.hort time will be 9s, and that is a comfortable enough vote by comparison with South Africa's Is 9d, and Canada's 74 cents. Our total expenditure also of £523,079 (exclusive of the cost of the second cruiser) is slightly better relatively than Australia's total expenditure of £2,318,164. But we must not rest satisfied with comparisons with the other Dominions, the largest of which could perhaps exist if there were no British Navy at all. We must compare our contribution of 8s a head with Britain's contribution of 255, our dependence on the Navy with her dependence, and our continued prosperity with her continuing- and increasing distress and anxiety. It is a curious fact that while everyone recognises the dependence of the Homeland on the Navy very few recognise that the position of this Dominion would be in every respect worse than the position of Britain if the Fleet failed to give adequate protection. There are after all many reasons why other Great Powers would not be eager to see- the Homeland change its flag, but there are no very satisfying reasons why they should hold the same view of us. We are at the mercy of any and every Power from whom Britain cannot protect us, and when we consider that she has protected us almost without assistance for eighty years, we must realise how unjust it is that naval burdens should be carried so unevenly. The only reaily comfortable thought which we can allow ourselves is that arising out of the opinion of so great an authority as Mr Archibald Hurd, who said when the American Fleet was here that "New Zealand makes a "bigger and more effective contribu- " tion [to naval defence] in proportion "to her population than any other " section of the "British Empire, and " [that] New Zealanders, with two "cruisers and two sloops . . . .

"can congratulate themselves on "obtaining the highest value for the " money which they .expend."' So far as that goes it is a most gratifying tribute, but instead of accepting it as an excuse for complacency we should b.e spurred by it to an effort more in keeping with our resources, and showing a greater appreciation of our debt It is to be hoped that the Chamber of Commerce resolution will be supported by other resolutions in the same strain from equally influential bodies.