The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1924. THE PRICE OF SECURITY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 185, 1 May 1924, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1924. THE PRICE OF SECURITY

Problems of defence in this country are not at present very clearly defined. It is at the moment uncertain, for instance, how far the defensive needs of the Empire as a whole may be affected by an extension of the armament limitation agreements embodied in the Washington treaties, or by a failure to extend these agreements. A good deal has yet to be done also in determining the lines on which the different countries of the Empire are prepared to co-operate for their mutual protection. The position from this standpoint evidently must be affected by decisions such as that under which the British Government has meantime decided to abandon the development of the Singapore base. With these big questions unsettled, this country has yet to prepare a comprehensive scheme of defence, in which naval, land, and air defence w’ould each be assigned their place <of relative importance.

It is generally agreed, however, that we must bear a larger share than we have borne hitherto of the cost of the naval defence of the Empire. In spite of existing uncertainties, which are neither few nor unimportant, it is clear that naval preparation must continue to take an important place—probably a predominant place • in whatever defensive measures this country undertakes individually or in co-operation with other parts of the Empire. No measure of armament limitation is likely to be agreed upon which will permit New Zealand to neglect adequate provision for the defence of its harbours, and the protection of its sea-borne trade. This being so, it is fortunate that the Government is at present in a position to obtain at first hand the advice of high naval authorities in regard to the lines on which participation by New Zealand in the naval defence of the Empire should proceed. Circumstances have changed considerably since Viscount Jellicoe delivered his report in 1919. For a time, however, Ministers will still be able to obtain from the Governor-General, as he now is, advice based on his exceptional naval knowledge and experience. The Government is fortunate, also, in having the opportunity of conferring with ViceAdmiral Field, whose ideas on the subject of Imperial naval cooperation have been expressed to some extent in public speeches. Though it is admitted that the Dominion must do more than it is doing now in naval defence, and probably in some other forms of defence, its defence expenditure as matters stand is running into figures that are by no means inconsiderable in relation to its total available resources.

The Prime Minister mentioned recently that the financial provision for all classes of defence during the financial year just ended amounted to £930,000. This total, however, included a contribution of £lOO,OOO to the cost of the Singapore base—a contribution not now required. It included, also, an interest and sinking fund payment of approximately £90,000 towards the cost of the battle-cruiser New Zealand. Since the New Zealand, after an honourable fighting career, is in the hands of the shipbreakers, this payment is not an item in current defence expenditure. It goes to liquidate a debt which will not be extinguished, under existing arrangements, until 1928-29.

Expenditure on current defence under the estimates of last year is thus brought down to about three-quarters of a million sterling. On the other hand, the Prime Minister has indicated that the Government proposes to obtain another modern cruiser, and that this will mean an additional outlay of £150,000 a year. Vice-Admiral Field has publicly urged that the Dominion should maintain a third cruiser, and also that it should create auxiliary and mine-sweeping forces which would be of value in making the principal harbours and their approaches secure against attack by raiders. The latter proposal evidently has much to commend it. In view of the growing popularity of motor-boating, the creation of an auxiliary force for coast and harbour defence should present no great difficulty. Even if the acquisition of a third cruiser is postponed for a time, it seems very probable that the Dominion may be faced before long by an expenditure of a million sterling per annum on current defence, and this in establishing a scheme of defence obviously in some respects incomplete. On a per capita basis it seems likely that New Zealand will keep pace with Australia, though that country, on top of an annual defence expenditure of about three and a half millions, is now proposing to expend seven millions '“over a short period” in enlarging its force of cruisers and submarines, and in other directions. Heavy as it promises to be, necessary expenditure on defence cannot wisely be withheld. In anticipation of further development, and in the interests alike of efficiency and economy, it seems very desirable, however, that the defence problems of the Dominion as a whole should be carefully and methodically examined—account being taken of the organisation of land and air forces as well as of naval defence.