NAVAL DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 91, 18 April 1921, Page 6

NAVAL DEFENCE

AUCKLAND, 16th April. Business to be dealt with at the Imperial Conference was again referred to by the Prime /Minister to-day. One of the most important, matters to be dis- \ cussed, he said,' would be that.of naval defence, especially in the Pacific. There were people who said the next storm centre would be the Pacific Whether this would be so he did not pretend to say, but we wouldl have to go through another war. It might not be for ten, twenty, or forty years, but it would most assuredly take place, and it behoved the Empire to be ready for it when it did come. He was not going to commit the country to heavy • expenditure on anything that' could 'be avoided, but, the time was coming when we must assist the United Kingdom in keeping up an Imperial Navy. As far as the Government's policy was concerned New Zealand would do her full share in th« maintenance of the Imperial Navy. Mr. Masisey, replying to theoommer-. cial travellers' farewell, said that they had played an important part in the history of the Dominion. There was far greater work for them to do. The Empire had to be kept together at all costs. Only by the unswerving loyalty of the community could this be aceom--plished. Commercial travellers were propagandists. .He would like them to, impress upon the people that the future of the*> Empire depended upon naval defence, and that it wae essential that maritime connections should be maintained. The> time would come , when ■ the Dominion must assist the- Mother • Country in the maintenance of an Imperial Navy. The policy must be to do as much a-s possible. He thought New Zealand would save and maintain her own ships as protection for her commerce.