DEFENCE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 103, 2 May 1914, Page 2

DEFENCE POLICY

SIR JOSEPH WARD ON THE "TOY NAVY" THE BURDEN TO BE BORNE. (It TEUSGfciFH.— fEBS* ASSOCtATIOM.) DUNEDIN, lat May. Referring to the local navy question in his address to-night Sir Joseph Ward said the matter was one the people ought to consider carefully. He had lioped for a long time v that they would be abb to keep everything in connection with naval matters completely out of the arena of party politics, but he regretted to say that it seemed^ almost impossible at present to do bo. The electors were having rammed upon them without their authority changes of policy from one of standing by the British Navy (in the shape of contributions) to one of a local navy, full details of which, and of the responsible ity it meant, the people had never yet been told by the Government. No Gov« ernment had any right to change a great policy matter such as that until they received the authority of the people through their representatives (Applause.) At Milton the' Minister for Defence had disputed some of the figures he (Sir Joseph) had quoted on the authority of Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson in his report as to the cost of the local navy to the Commonwealth. The figures he (Sir Joseph) gave vvero correct— (applause)^but, even if they were not correct, did the fact not remain that the Government was urging the establishment of a local navy? He had all along exprosed himself in strong opposition to the local navy, and the onus was upon the Government to show m detail all the items of expenditure that the local navy meant to the coun* try. It had not dofto so. If they were to have a local navy, it must be efficient. The Government was not doing its duty in suggesting that one Bristol cruiser was to bo brought to this country. (Applause. ) They were told now that it was- a unit that was being asked for. Let them look at what was taking place in Australia. One of the most powerful daily journals in Melbourne was a strong advocate of a navy for the Commonwealth, and in November last it started to publish a series of articles to show what the Commonwealth was doing. Upon tho quesi tion of a local navy, it said •.—"We are booked to spend five millions on the navy, alone. If we go on in the next five years squandering money on warlike equipments in the same feverish, inconsiderate manner as during the last eighteen months, -the taxpayer in 1918 will be called upon to foot a military and naval budget of ten millions per annum." New Zealand could not do anything less if it was going in for a local navy. ■ They all knew the talk which the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence had been indulging in about, protecting British interests in the Pacific and about protecting the sea routes and the ports of New Zealand. Did thia not mean that wo must have ati efficiort local navy? Austiaha had gone in for a local navy that could noli do what the New Zealand Government said we ought to do with our navy, and yet* the Melbourne Age had pointed on* that in four years tho Commonwealth would be spending ten million pounds, ,\Ve Jvere told, ana*

it was repeated by the piesent Government, that we were to give up our direct contribution of £100,000 to the British 1 Government and substitute for it-— what ? One Bristol cruiser ! And the people were not told what was to follow it. There was no one on th© face of the earth who could make him believe that' the Minister for Defence dj<J not recognise that it was impossible to stop at one Bristol cruiser if he went in for a, •Jocal navy, and intended! it to take the place of the direct attachment to the British Government. In the House ha had referred tc the local navy as "a toy navy," and ho called it a "toy navy' 1 now. Why? Not, because there was only one vessel being brought here, but because a naval ad" viecr was being appointed, and was there any man or woman of common-sense who' believed^ that an experienced naval officer would come nere and advise the Government that one Bristol eruisef was enough to meet the requirements of tin's country ? (Applause.) He, and the Liberal Party ac a whole, recognised the importance of defence for New Zealand, and they believed*that they had to see that the country was properly equipped from the standpoint of internal defence particularly. (Applause.^ If they kept on as they were going, in five years the country would be paying £1,500,000 for naval and internal defence. In tho interest of internal defence they should not allow the navy to run away with them untees they were to get into serious trouble. He wanted to leave this question where is had been Lr r aev , ent ;H w o .Years. All tho6e~years New Zealand had received full rec'outm* turn from countries opposed to the Empire because of the great value of the British Navy. Tho right course was to stand close to the British Na.vy> and by contributions to that Navy the people ot this country should do th«i.« part, and ■recognise that it .was upon the safety of the British Isle* that the safety of New - Zealand, Austrab's, Canada, and South Africa depended. (Applause.)