THE NAVY AND THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 952, 20 October 1910, Page 5

THE NAVY AND THE EMPIRE.

SPEECH BY THE FIRST LORD. SCOUTS PROPOSAL TO BORROW FOR THE FLEET. A LABOUR PARALLEL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec. Ootober 19, 9.55 p.m.) London, Ootober 19. Mr. Reginald: M'Kenna, addressing his constituents at Blaenavon, Monmouth-' shire, declared that with patience the problem created by the Osborne judgment would be solved in-such a way as to restore the good of trade union representation in Parliament, while respecting the conscience of political dissenters.

Replying to Labour criticisms of the expenditure on the Navy, Mr. M'Kenna said that armaments are to the nation what levies for strike pay are to trade unions. If it was necessary to have instruments of war against their fellowcountrymen, it was impossible to let their arms rust when they were dealing with foreigners.

The Government gave a bold and sincere lead three years ago for the reduction of armaments, but it was compelled to change in. 1909, when. the "foreign programmes were bigger : than ever. The Government was bound to secure the safety of the country and the Empire. ;

In conclusion, Mr. M'Kenna recalled the fact that there: had : been! a requisition for a hundred .million, loan signed by generals and admirals. A loan would be but a temporary ■ expedient. ' "We have," declared the. right honourable gentleman, "to . maintain our Navy as the first in the world for all. time, and tho first sip of decadence would be when fie Navy was not paid for out of the annual revenue, and the nation relied upon borrowed money."