The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1909. IMPERIAL NAVAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 534, 15 June 1909, Page 6

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1909. IMPERIAL NAVAL DEFENCE.

The net result of yesterday's debate in the House upon the battleship offer must be.set down as disappointing. But for the fact that a few speeches rose above the level of. platitude, and contained evidence of really serious thought upon the largo practical issuos involved in question of Imperial dofence, we should have had to call the debate paltry, and unworthy of a country whose Imperial credit is understood to bo quite exceptional. Many of yostorday's speakers contented, themselves with what can best be described as "loyal remarks," affirming and insisting upon tlw fidelity of New Zealand to tho Mother-

land in phrases long since worn threadbare and fast approaching the stage of meaninglessness. Surely the point has been reached when the loyalty of this country, and its sense of the importance of maintaining the supremacy of the Empire, may be taken for granted. Every thoughtful Imperialist will welcome the speedy-demise of the ludicrous idea that there is anything of practical Imperialism in a laboured insistence upon points which nobody dreams of disputing. Loyal remarks are well enough at banquets and unofficial gatherings, but their constant reiteration in Parliament is so much waste of time, unless they are to lead to the issue of constructive ideas. The Prime . Minister's speech, was •in every way valueless. The Dreadnought offer has passed out of practical politics, and it is regrettable that the question of Imperial defence should have been opened by a bald and formal motion of ratification of that offer. That motion, and the Peijie Minister's useless speech upon it, stand in marked contrast to the motion which was carried in the Canadian House of Commons on March 29 last and the debate which then occurred. The Canadian Parliament has carried a long motion stating a definite naval policy and the reasons therefor; the New Zealand Parliament has merely ratified the offer of a battleship, an offer which, however well it may have served its purpose, will, almost certainly not be'taken advantage of in the particular form proposed.

On the broad issues nothing really helpful came from tho Ministerial benches. There were, however, one or two practical speeohes. from members. Not l much" good j^n' be done by further discussing tHe constitutional aspect of the Government's action. Most people are agreed that.it was unconstitutional, and nobody will disagree with Mr. Allen's declaration that if the offer had been made with a Parliamentary backing such moral effect as it has had in Britain would have been greatly multiplied. The Government, after the discussion which this point has received, may be trusted not to offend Again in this way. The share which New Zealand is to take in Imperial defence in the-future is a question which this coun,try must settle for itself. In this matter we still hold to the opinion which wo expressed before the Dreadnought offer was dreamed of,--that we must make a large and real sacrifice, to the extent, if necessary, of even half a million a year. As to,tho shape which our , contributions should take, that is a matter which cannot be decided upon until the advice of 'the experts has been considered. We have never failed to give Sin Joseph Ward unqualified credit for the position which he took up at the Imperial Conference in 1906. In opposing the idea of a local navy, 'he was acting in perfect good faith, and certainly in accord with New Zealand opinion at that But opinions .throughout the Empire have changed again ■.and jagain, and . Sir "'Joseph will go to London without any public opinion behind him excepting on the point of- this country's willingness to do all that it can. But, as one of the speakers in yesterday's debate pointed out, willingness is of little use unless it is'backed up by readiness. It may bo noted in passing that as the Prime Minister cannot commit the country to anything at the Conference, and cannot oven say in what direction New Zealand inclines, he cannot .say or'do more than any other inexpert representative could say or do. Amongst the experts ho can only listen. Amongst the men-with mandates, of policy in their pockets ho can only sit silent. :

The result of yesterday's debate was morely a confirmation of the battleship offer. Of what value can that be to tho country ? Jf for no other reason than tho necessity, for making it clear that "spas-" modip,.arid,ephemeral" action,.• as.. Mr. Massey calls it, is a foolish policy, something better—something in the way of a practical policy for the future—should have been forthcoming from the Government. On the day after the offer was made—March 23—we had to protest th"at New Zealand's obligations should be the result-of "calm reasoning and cool-headed, judgment instead of hasty impulse," and we.have since had Sie Wilfrid Lahrier's endorsement of that view. For, speaking on March 29, he thus stated the Canadian policy: "Wβ' are not to be carried nway,- we are not to be stampeded by tfhe transitory events of the moment from what has been tbe fettled policy'and the deliberate course whioh iye have kid down, by any hasty, feverish action, however spectacular such action may be." ■ He refused to be disturbed by "a passing wave, in which they could trace anger, enthusiasm, and fear,-" even although "if they were to listen to a certain press and give attention to the wave which was passing they should, be giving .'a Dreadnought 1 to Great Britain." That is the attitude which we should liko to havo seorf in our own Pbime Minister. 'But as matters stand the Government has no policy from either the naval or the military standpoint. One can only hope that the Defence ; Conferencei will bring ' enlightenment. It will then be for Parliament to insist on the reforms in our government which will enable .this country to assist the Empire by something more than a display of loyal fireworks.