"SIMPLY SPLENDID"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 138, 7 December 1912, Page 11

"SIMPLY SPLENDID"

MR. MASSEY ON CANADA'S NAVAL POLICY DEFENCE MATTERS. (BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) LAWRENCE, 6th December. The Prime Minister, accompanied by the Hons. James Allen, W. Fraser, R. H. Rhodes, Dr. Portiere, and Messrs. Guthrie, H. Nosworthy, and other members, spent to-day in Lawrence. At a public meeting in the evening Mr. Massey referred to the question of defence. He did not think the people of this countiy could deal with a inoro important question at the present timt than that of defence — and especially the naval defence — of their country. He would explain the position. They had, as he had told them, a very good scheme, of land defence provided for on the Statute Book. That scheme cost approximately £500,000 per annum, and the operation of the Act was in the hands and under the control of experienced, capable men, and the best, lines were being pursued. But about naval defence he was not so well satisfied. Here was the position in which^New Zealand found herself to-day. Their contribution to the Imperial Navy was, roughly, £250,000 per annum, which included interest and sinking fund on what was termed the New Zealand Dreadnought. A sum of £150,000 went for interest and sinking fund for the Dreadnought and £100,000 as annual contribution. New Zealand was supposed to-day to be under the protection of what might be termed the Chinese ■ squadron of the Imperial fleet, with its headquarters at Hongkong. They wefe supposed to have in time of peace on the east coast two British cruisers, three torpedo-boat destroyers, and two submarines. He found no fault with those ships, but they were not fighting ships as compared with a battleship or a firstclass armoured cruiser. .So far as it was possible to judge they Were ships which were to protect their harbours, their coasts, and their trade routes. He had received that afternoon a copy of a cablegram which had come from Canada I to New Zealand. j Mr. Massey then read the cable respecting the Canadian naval proposals. He did not think that £2,350,000 would provide three battleships of the first class, and it seemed to him there was an error there. He thought that what Canada was proposing to do was simply j splendid. (Applause.) Canada had risen to the occasion in a magnificent manner, and he fould not express it in any other terms. (Applause.) The Hon. James Allen was going to England. He knew J the minds of Ms colleagues on naval de- ' fenco, and tye would havo an opportunity ' of conferring with the Imperial naval authorities in Britain. The members of the New Zealand Government had known that these Negotiations were going on between Britain and Canada, and he was delighted at the result. Mr. Allen would represent New Zealand at any conference with the Imperial authorities at Home, and, knowing his Imperial sentiments, he (Mr. Massey) had no hesitation in saying that the Government had the utmost confidence in him, and that he would represent the Dominion worthily and well. (Applause.) When Mr. Allen came back to New Zealand the Government would be able to declare its policy from a naval point of view, and he asked the people to have patience and wait until then. But here was the position : Canada had done its duty ; one of the nations bordering on the Pacific — Australia — was doing its duty in its own way ; and it remained for New Zealand to do its duty, It might, cost ns more money— it probably would ,' but if ever the New Zealand Government found it necessary to ask the people for more money .for the purpose of na.yal defence to protect our coasts, our harbours, and oiir trade routes, lie Was certain the people of New Zealand would respond in a manner worthy of themselves, worthy of Britishers, and worthy of the occasion. (Applause.)