PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2220, 5 August 1914, Page 8

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

: IN THE DOMINION. STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER. PARTY DIFFERENCES DISAPPEAR. ; A statement •. rcgardin g the precautionary measures taken by tne Government .in; view of the present situation was made to the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon, •■■ ■'■■;■. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey: "I think at! this stage, bu behalf of tne, Government,;] .should give the House' some information. with regard to the precautionary measures that have been taken in the last few days on account of the war- in' Europe. ■ In regard to these measures, I may say that we have taken them under Imperial instrucon the recommendation of the. 1 Imperial authorities, or in accordance •with. Imperial .regulations/■'' With isbme. of them members-are no doubt already acquainted.- First.-of all,-members raVy have noticed that tho. Naval Rosefvis\ have been.called out,, and. ordered to* join their ships. Some of these Naval: Reservists are New have been trained, in the Australasian Squadron,, and. some>bf them: are men'.who hayo served their'time : ;iii the Imperial Navy, apd; are:iio\v;-ih..the, merchant ser- : rice,. These men. are now joining Hia ■ Majesty's ships'in those.waters.:-,, . "Censorship has-been,referred to. 1 . It is:true : that asystem of censorship has been! established in .this country, par-, iwith reference to cablegrams \ passing into and -"out" of-New.-Zealand. It has been established by this Government acting under direction of the Imperial authorities:: ';■"., i .■ ■■ ■ >.: "An examination service has also been' established. It.lias been found necessary to examine all' vessels coming, into the four principal ports of this country. No vessol will be allowed to enter the ports of Auckland- Wellington, Lyttolton, or Ol'ago without" being,examined. It wilLnot be'necessary .for, the officers and men- in charge of the examination \>f vessels.to board a ship in. every case. If. they are satisfied'.'that a ship is not' n. hostile ship- and that her entry into the'port will not He detrimental, to the interests of this, country—ono of .our own ships, for ihstance-rthe ship will be" allowed to pass in, and' 'in.regard' te" mdst ships • the examination will not 1 be extensive—will not occupy, more than a few ■ minutes. ,: "You have also noticed that; the Philomel; ■which was handed ■ over 'to' the New Zealand' Government, has now been, handed back to the Imperial authorities, iin. accqrdanco-.witluitho A.qt of last, year. i ;'may ; has been taken.on the'recommendation pf the Imperial authorities. -Thei Philomel'is now an ordinary warship of His .Navy, ..under the -control of the senior, naval officer, in New' Zealand'. ■Waters; •• ' ■,",' Manning the Forts. ;"' " j - "There is one precaution that has been j taken ■ which up to thb present has not j been made public. The Garrison Artil lery lias been called out. and thb forts will bo wholly manned. both day and night. Probably it will not be: neces-j sary to go further than this.' It is truei that in one other, port of the Dominions vessels' are, allowed to enter the harbour j only in .the.day,time.. '< Wo don't thiukt it-is'necessary-to take this precaution! yet. ; , ,; I Cables from Home Authorities. ' "During iheiast day or two some, rather important cablegrams have passed between, this Government;. and th'o Imperial Government. Members will recognise that'most, of' these' are confidential, and will riot ask.mo to disclose their contents.'./(Hear, hear.) One or two of; them, .however; I can read, to the House. First of all ...is a telegram, dated August: 2, from 'the ■ Secretary of State for thb Colonies, to the Governor of, New/Zealaiid;_. I; may;'say.-that 1 am reading this telegram at the' request of His. Excellency,-who is, working with Ministers "in a most whole-hearted'way, doing everything that is:possible; for a .gentleman in'his .position to do;,' Your '.telegram.-.of July 31.' I■ • have laid before the King your re- ,-• ■ "-port of the proceedings hi the' Now Zealand Parliament.' His Majesty ■ received, it With much, pleasure, "and I have, been commanded; by- His . Majesty to convey, to you his high ■ ' appreciation of this further roani- '; festatioii of/tho staunch,loyalty 0f... the Dominion. ■'.-■.-...■/'.- (Signed) HARCOURT. ~'. "There is this other telegram, wated' August 3:— '•.;...■' ~- His Majesty's-Government-have , ' received with-deep gratitude the •. announcement of/the, readiness of your Minister ' to' call," volunteers •for expeditionary..force'/ but no,cpn- '-.. dition has yet' arisen which ;woujd •: make■ this step,;necessary at- pre-- ■ -.sent. ■ ■ ■■• ' ..: . .'/. - : (Signed) HARCOURT. The Expeditionary Fqrqe.;. ■'"I want to emphasise the. words 'at. present," because''it'' is/quite ,_ possible that the ImperialV authorities may change this decision in the-very near future. I can't go. further than that at'the present moment. I would just like to'say that some preliminary, arrangements have been made for calling for volunteers for an expeditionary-force if required, but no actual stop wilt bo taken to ■ ask ■ for ■ names until a further cablegram has-been received, and until Parliament has been advised, and until Parliament; has signified approval. .That is all the information I am able to give: at the 'moment, but: I would, just like to express my- appreciation: of the fact' that in. New Zealand, and not •.only here, but in' every part of; the British Dominions, Imperial considerations arc looked Upon as being above and beyond' party. (Hear, hear.) We may '.n&vb our'party differences, we may engage- in party warfare, but when a ; crisis comes: along, such as wo arb now ' experiencing-;,'''partios disappear. It is not a question;of what is best for party, • but what is best for the Empire as a ; whole..-'.-. : ', '-,}■-■ . .-.-.,■ SOUTHWALES MINERS ' (Rcc. Aug'uet.4, 5.20 p.m.) /.London, August 3. The, South Wales Miners' Council has decided that-miners shall not resumo .work until'; Thursday. ■ . .. , FEDERAL PROCLAMATION ' ' ~(Rec: 'August 5, 1.15 a.m.) '.. Melbourne, August 4: ■A 1 Federal- proclamation has been issued, stating that owing to the existence of the danger of war the Government' calls out.such. portions; of the citizen forces' sis' : are-, necessary to '.fulfil tk« precautionary, measures laid-down,