NAVAL DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 92, 15 October 1913, Page 8

NAVAL DEFENCE

PROPOSED DOMINIONS' CONFERENCE NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION. Writing on the subject of naval defence for tho Dominions, the Sydney Morning Heraid say 3: — "It is clear that a conference in London under the auspices of the Imperial Government is essential if really satisfactory results are to be arranged." The point was brought \mder the notice of the Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, by a Post reporter to-day. "This has been m the air for the iast eighteen mouths," he said. "Tt was pioposed that the conference should be at Vancouver." New Zealand, he added, had made no such proposal. "Would not New Zealand," he was asked, "be interested in such a proposal?" "I cannot answer for New Zealand," he replied, but he made it clear in a guarded statement that it was unquestionably a matter in which New Zealand was really interested. "There are," he went on to say, "opportune times for doing things and inopportune times. That is all I have to say about it." Questioned further, the Minister said that the Government's announcement on tho subject of New Zealand's naval policy would be disclosed in a Ministerial statement well before the end of the month. Asked as to why the statement had been so long delayed, the Minister stated that the week-end stonewall by the Opposition had made it impossible for Cabinet to meet and give careful attention to such an important matter. The only chance of getting through important work of this description was to have time at its disposal at the week-end. In the course of subsequent discussion it was made apparent that the main features of the Government's naval policy have been laid down and agreed to by the Admiralty, and all that now remains is to fix up a few details which are not reckoned as of prime importance. Complete knowledge of the Admiralty's views in regard to these matters, however, is essential to a full appreciation of the situation, and as soon as these details have been Settled the Government's naval policy will be announced. [This statement reached us after our editorial on the subject was in type.]