The Dominion THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1939. SOUTH PACIFIC NAVAL DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 8

The Dominion THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1939. SOUTH PACIFIC NAVAL DEFENCE

It was unnecessary for speakers at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday night to justify themselves in discussing naval defence. There is need for stressing the vital shio of the Navy to the trade and commerce of the Dominion. More over any body of responsible citizens, no matter in what its particular interests may lie, has the best of reasons for expressing opinions on so important a national issue. Indeed it is the duty of all citizens to take an active, informed interest in defence questions to use their collective influence in inducing the to explore every means of strengthening the country. The Chamber o Commerce has acted usefully, not only in lending its voice to the general call for larger and more positive measures of defence but flso in calling fresh attention to the need for co-operation with Australia in creating a scheme of protection for British interests ovei the South Pacific and Tasman areas as a whole . As one speaker said in the course of the discussion, it is obvious that interference with New Zealand trade routes m ttme o« ™ would deal a knock-out blow to commerce. It would cut off trade on which our economy has been built, leave on our hands an unusabe quantity of primary produce, and render us nationally impotent. Ihe same Applies to some extent to Australia though the Cmnrnonwealth has travelled considerably farther along the load to selfcontained nationhood. The principal bulwark between the Dominion and such a calamity as enforced isolation is the Navy. No ineasu e of defence can replace it. . . . , , .i, Within the last three months this point has been emphasize repeatedly by experts and notable publicists who have visited this country During his recent tour Earl Beatty, chairman of the N y League in England, urged audiences in every centre to become more conscious of the importance of sea power. Admirable as is the propaganda for an increase in the Air Force,” he said, / it is the duty of the Navy League to see that the public is sufficiently educated not to forget the Navy.” Lord Strabolgi offered similar advice dwelling on the importance of capital ships and—what is of equa importance—the necessity for providing dock accommodation for- sue vessels. But the particular need to which the Chamber of Commerce speakers referred was reviewed with greater detail in November by Rear-Admiral W. B. Mackenzie (retired), in an interview shortly after his arrival in New Zealand. He spoke of the desirability ot forming an Empire Naval Squadron for the defence of both Australia and New Zealand, a force consisting, if possible, of thiee oi four capital ships and a number of cruisers.

With such a force at their disposal (he said) Australia and New Zealand could have the assurance that any hostile Pom er would have the greatest difficulty in getting troopships over long ocean stretches. The mere existence of such naval strength would be a powerful deterrent.. . . Close co-operation between Australia, New Zealand, Malaya and Great Britain might enable the establishment of such a unit as he envisaged.

Rear-Admiral Mackenzie pointed out that he was not overlooking the naval strength of the Singapore Base, and the China Squadron. Even taking this into account, he considered that South Pacific sea defence should be independent and adequate in itself. The impracticability of New Zealand providing for herself alone in naval development is evident. Up to the present she has merely contributed to the upkeep of the New Zealand Division, which consists of two light cruisers and two sloops, a force of little scope or pmpose beyond police duty in time of peace. Assuming that Britain is not in a position to provide greater protection, a policy of cooperation with Australia would seem the logical, if not the only possible, course of development. In the past there lias been no lack of reciprocity between the Commonwealth and the Dominion in liaval matters, and it is not suggested that either Government, or the Naval authorities themselves, have overlooked the elementary need for a complete understanding as between the forces available today. What should now be ascertained is whether mutual advantage would be gained, and British strength in the South Pacific area unproved, by joining forces with Australia. . An important point to remember is that any undertaking no entirely one-sided in New Zealand’s favour would involve a very considerable increase in expenditure. We cannot ask or expect Australia simply to add to her own burden of defence responsibility. Security has its price, and New Zealand must be prepared to pay that price, even if it means the curtailment or abandoning for the time being ot social luxuries.