NAVAL DEFENCE WHAT NEW ZEALAND SHOULD DO

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 78, 2 April 1914, Page 8

NAVAL DEFENCE WHAT NEW ZEALAND SHOULD DO

LEGISLATORS' VIEWS. (IT TELEORArH..- PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Local members of Parliament were interviewed by a Star .reporter this morning with reference to Mr. Massey's lemarks at Mosgiel on Monday last with regard to the Government's naval policy. All (he opinions given were from an independent viewpoint, it being accepted that naval defence should not be a party question. The Hon, Mr. Paul. M.L.C., said he considered the common aim of the overseas dominions should be effectiveness in the direction of serving the Imperial Navy as a, reinforcement in time of serious hostilities. It was impossible for many years to come for one or all of the overseas dominions to stand alone in regard to serious naval _ defence j consequently separate fleet units would merely increase the' difficulties and expense of control, maintenance, renewal, and manning. If it was necessary for the colonies to provide naval protection in the Pacific let all the dominions interested cooperate and evolve a definite, comprehensive scheme of naval defence. Limited efforts by each dominion can neither be effective' nor economical, Mr. G. AL Thomson. M.P,, said he was not favourable to New Zealand adopting a policy similar to that of the Commonwealth, of having a local navy and a separate naval establishment. ''That time will come, but we are not ready yet. At the same time nothing will bring it about so quickly as the continuation of the apparent neglect of the Mother Country to reciprocate the spirit of cooperation this country has shown. Therefore, I approve of our Government's pro* posal that, if the Home Government does not carry out the agreement of 1909, ■our Government .should obtain a cruiser of the Bristol type, which in the event of war would pass automatically under Imperial control. As recent advices point to the probability of a, Naval Conference between all the parties interested being held shortly, I hope the Government will not take definite action until this course lias actually been agreed to or definitely abandoned." Mr. Statham, M.P., pointed out that as many of the communications from the Imperial authorities on the subject were strictly confidential, it was difficult Jo* anyone outside the Cabinet to form a proper opinion regarding the actual posi' tion. Doubtless Cabinet's actions and proposals were the product of fuller knowledge of the position Chan any of* the outside public could have. The building of a- local navy on the lines of the Australian . Commonwealth was quite ont of the question, as the cost pcl 1 head of population would be absolutely prohibitive. He knew the Government, had no intention of embarking upon such a policy. Mr. Massey had wisely decided to wait the result of the Dominions' Conference before placing his proposals before Parliament. It was the duty of Parliament, untrammelled by party interests, to decide how much wo can afford -to npend, and see that it was spent wisely to produce the ' best results.