NATIVES ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 329, 16 October 1908, Page 4

NATIVES ASSOCIATION.

PAPER BY,THE PRESIDENT. "Is-EW ZEALAND'AND TIJE NAVV." An interesting paper on "New Zealand aiul c the Navy" was read at the meeting of the r New. Zealand Natives' Association .last night 'J by the president, Dr. Wallace Mackenzie, bcioro a satisfactory attendance. s Dr. Wallace Mackenzie prefaced his re- ' marks by referring shortly to the various < schemes of national defence tha.t have been ( proposed. 'J'ho British Admiralty, ho said, , contended that, on account, ol' llio fact that tho battles whieli would decide the fate of . the Empire would be fought in the English | Channel, or the Mediterranean Sea, or China . Sea, local lleets and local fortifications might be dispensed with. Seeing how difficult it sometimes was to find disabled ships, it was 1 easy to realiso the probability of an armed , ship eluding the l'acilic Squadron, which embraced the Singapore and Australasian "squadrons. The Germans, in war time, would arm their fast merchant steamers; in fnct, a full" equipment for a number of those ships' was kept at one of the stations belonging to Germany in the South Pacific. In the event of the British Empire being, engaged in a conflict with one or more Powers', New Zealand would be siligled out 1 for attack for the following reasons(l) That she owes England a large amount of money; (2) New Zealand had an excellent coal supply, good harbours and docks for repairing ships; (3) as a permanent possession New Zealand was a country to be desired by the overcrowded nations of the North; (4) it would bo easy for the chief ports to be raided by merchantmen for the purposes of looting. Eminent authorities, including Admiral Fanshawo, 'had; observed Dr. Wallaec Mackenzie,; pointed oiit how absolutely, open to nttack Australasia, and New' Zealand in par- . ticular, would be in the event 9f defeat of the British Navy: As a matter of sentiment he -approved of the increase in the New Zealand naval subsidy. He did not believo England 1 would relax her care of such an excel-: lent' security as New Zealand, even if" no-thing-were paid.' ' ■ "Defending,- as Now Zealand., is, .'almost . entirely, (in the British Navy, - -, her people arej' 1 continued Dr. Wallaec Mackenzie, "Jiving'in a fool's paradise. No orio. knows how near is the day ivhen the 1 nations of Europe and Asia will engage in a: life and death .struggle'.' . Australia is waking up, while New Zealand is sleeping on calmly'under'the noothing .platitudes, of tradition. It' somo day Now Zealand happens to' be attacked, will the people become the servants of.t.iio conquerors or'will they" take 'to "the. bush and and fight as 'their fatliers hayo done?. It will then be too laf.e to see tlio advantage ' 'of. being " prepared' before the StrorigMan comes.", . ■', • INTERESTING DISCUSSION. JfrAS. Pearson said that' riflo" shooting in New 'Zealand" was 'merely a pastimo'like cricket.' Volunteers (lid not,receive sufficient instruction in shoo,ting.':' Every year £100,000 was spoilt' on 'tho : fortes.' : ■ In his opinion tho greater portion was wasted.'' Tho capital of New Zealand should bo located inland. In that case civil 'servants would have comfortable homes with, good gardens, etc. ' Mr/ London thought tho pepplo of New Zealand should bo inspired by" greater patriotism than seemed to exist.. Ho'did nob take s\ich' a- pessimistic view -of M affair's as did the author of tho paper. Tho-'best'-'way-to defend New Zealand was • it. Mr. Bqnnett commended tho efforts of tho Government in 'tlio matter of "furthering'tlio cadet \ . Mr. Leigh Hunt said the best modo cf defence- for New' Zealand-was a flotilla t.f submarines., • Dr. Mackenzie;,said ho too believed that the capital of tho Dominion should be situated in a 1 moro secure position. "TO ASSIST' ; THE BRITISH NAVY;"' ' Mr.- Leigh Hunt gave-,-notico of l ,, his intention tp move .aS at the next,..melting "That with;fa-,view',.to, assisting-, the British . navy in,.-the defence of this section of tho Empire,-the,, Government of ..NewZoAland be eanvestiyi'urged : for. tliq. farming of tho..ocean merchantmen trading regularly .-.to ;New?Z.9aland,'; (2),-to estab-;-lish flotillas : of submariiie.s' in. each,, of. t'icprincipal ■ ports.-;-:,,(3-) ,to establish wireless telegraphic communication with Australasia and elsewhere; (4) to encourago.a considerable increase in the population and increased patriotism by granting, .tho. freehold tenure to country settlers; and (5) to adequately protect New Zealand's' coal deposits from attack by land and sea." .Further discussion' on tho paper was adjourned until tho next regular meeting.