NAVAL DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1922, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

TRAINING OF SAILORS

DOMINION AS A MARITIME

-NATION, f

There was a general difcotnon on naval matters in the LtgiiUtive Council yesterday afternoon, when the Leader (Sir William Fraser) moved to. commit tlie Naval Defence Amendment Bill. A precis of the speeches delivered by the Hon. Colonel G. J. Smith and the Hon. 0. Samuel appeared in " The Post " last evening. The debate was continued after a The Post'" went to Press.

The Hon. J. B. Gow said that the argument applied by the Hon. 0. Samuel was paltry. To argue that because New Zealand was atile to lean upon the Mother Country it should be relieved from all responsibility in the matter of providing men for the Navy was to supports pernicious doctrine. Without dealing'with the question of a local navy, the Council might vefey -well endorse the principle that jt .was up to them to give norfonly treasure in money but treasure in manhood fpr the upholding of the glory of the Empire. It would be a sorry day when New Zealand failed to encourage sailors. They wanted' a race of seamen bred in the country, so that they would be of value to the Empire. , The Hon. W. Earnshaw said he wai 'amazed at the speeches delivered by the first two speakers. Their memory must be very poor indeed. Did they not remember the fear at the outbreak of the war because the naval defence of the Dominion wai^inadequate? The Hon. Colonel Smith: " Will the Chatham rectify that?"

The Hon. Mr. Earnshaw said that the Chatham fyeas'}■_ niore":powerful thah gen-" erally .suppose^.'>/It was 'sent; to-New. Zealahd as • the. most suitable vessel in view *of -the^finances /V qf'/the';;; country/ .Th«!re\.were yery'feW ootahtries; in:^'..'the ■ world; to-day 'whp.yweref breeding 'hien with a sea stomach. New Zealand was ■,a:.teariiime''''Muniry^';/ahA^.'itew'futi%erdS>' i planes had made a very great advance, . but'v niany ;.■ experts'■■.' StiU stbbd i by> the battleship as the main line of defence. ilt-.wa«-.!fbr- NeW^Zßalahd-^o^p'ronde ;,th» :.Mb^er;.;(^ui|try.;-iWte:-.'i^-'-del«idwcß;:i''.llti' .{wißTquite.-'W."'^^!^^'-^^^^^^^^^!!!' N6w Zealand -for.-to {'iea1 as fbr:militarj;. bpe^Wons: ;H Var'brSkfeAoutlag"ain;;it wbiild: be a grWt tHihg-,' if New Zealand couias«a^:; ; :V^:;:hive;soodtbi-: men whom Ye- canplace atthis disposal of the Admiralty. r.;>'*v-M '■ ■:-'-]iV''-\£j%'\ "'. ■:■ 'The 'Bon: ■,■ SiriThomas';. Macfcenide 'fnii ;thai the ,firs,l two sßeakirs^had touched the bractical.;side.^;Thejr had-raised the questionswhether it' wduli'npt^ be! better .'Jot',Niw/2ealand-;tq:.provide money for ;the'navy.ahd 4ei^\it''to^'bW,whb./V6uld make the. besi tise.''b.flfc',VT_r»li»>inade';rei cehtlyhad proved definitely ( that aircraft. :wm;a:miitoh .fofcbattieships.-;>Njw'*Zea-' r£4wjopo*'^:''bn' naval defence. /It was ijbVavSuestion of1 patriotism; .viTne:■■'hon.'; genpmen: Vho; had opened, the debate .were-a,s,.patriotic as:i any- in; NeV Zealand,;;but'..' they: took \ai t broad "outlook. Wasv the", present;-the titae-'iib7Bpend;nioney''.onL;training'' i !nilprß?, • Hundreds of , Bailors, were being -i paid .< off' beraui»VMprMV:,%'aiipk'.!weire.vb^^.::]aid,' up; VNew! Zealand:should• gbSih forisubi maHhesrands aircraft/; withil big Vcahbri : guns, bn.^^^thej chief\prpinbntories jirbund :the;TOast;p;-;:^::ii:':i; v ::'i;::;^ lK:-;^ '■/<> •■' :i,'; The >; Ewi[ r W /^J.J; Geddi/ii^ta,te;d-; that;. ithe"^^^^^^'^^^^*^^^^'!^^^^/''^^*^: invtlii? Biltbefore: the HousefSThe:cnief. point whicK. the: Gouncil must \ settle^-the; :Zei^ndr(»iidvthe'' eitattishinehtv of;" a: nayal ;'-f esißrve^-had.' :aoi''beeh:'t6uefa'{Bd'up^h^'i'':'Beg4lrdihg;the''i firai- pbiht; ; hi:; thoughtV tiiafcf onlyf-bn*} bp'iiiidn- could hi hiw;-Vf i-'^"'/?'-.'.'v^ \.%: ■-,::■ Gvi-'Mi' .ThoMsbn^said-ythat;;. ; under existing cbiiditibris ii Newi-Zeaiahd could :oniy "be ;;aitabltißd ; by; /seacraft^ therfefore it miibt organise: its r'defehce - ag'dirist' tijaHsgressipn1 by.'.sea.1;;-.■ New; Zea-,; land's ■■tiiain object snoiild. be »not,'the' tFaiHiilg' pt] sailbfmen [ :But tHe establish-; ■ vflfoS'''ofia^ay»l'''re«We"Slid''tte''encßli i ri': ;:agßteent;{of ■ fisheries itb-th»t: eiid.: The: ;Nfewj Zealajjid i fiih^r'ies\w?i-e;. :;.yery'rbadly "maiiagea 'to-day\ and, not' more; than 2000 hle'h' ?wei»e ,eiigaged\in' the industry';: z:/;^ ■ ■;. The;Hpn>: 3. '; Barf said that ,■ the MpAV---6; Sainnei :had probably : achieVed by;'his; iSpefech. :tli'e> Bnljr.' bbjefct he rjad in 'view> "naiiiely/, the 'initiation of aVdiiciissib* ori;; /^iiayal,.'. matters'.'"!: .v y.His;. arguments ■'■ wer'*" qiiiteMppic'il ana":iiot: withiii '. his usual idea ■of .the fitness ,bf; things.;; :Mr. !Barr strongly favoured the training of *ailors arid the, establishment' Of a nilvarregerye.; ;Aii:, fbrce;br 'nb:air forc6, .it'iSas necessary tbitiain^hien for" the: sea in alt parts of itne Bntish!Eriipire,|btherVii6 the Erril*ire/ cbuldnbt hope;"to retain itgihold bii the' . world's •shipping;' V: '",'u) ■ '■•::'';*.r.'i'.?"!vil •;. The, Leader of the.Cbhricil (Sir: William : .Fraser) ;stated';that;,tHe;Spn;VMr.;,.Bafr read's answered rallithe! argantents laired; speakers.', -He-would; like tp^aiteure^ Oie;'Hoh:::; Mr;A:Samuel JtKat; j therei Vas hb; :su'gMstioh of conscriptibii: under the;: Bill. : j^the/. Empire owed its', very, existence;';tb;."tKe,;; training; of mcii j for; the 'sea;; and; tbe Bill /merely soUght.; to eincbufage New Zealahders inclined to" take, up the>sea life to do so. 'V.The pre-' sent ■ arrahgeihents;,with-, the '■:. liiiperial, /autn^brities.S'lwere-'oniyV'tenipo'raify^.^tiat'' r'ihe country could not launch- but at the present :;time.> ( fiohpurab|e'j; members. ■ "would' fjiliy^iinclergtjiid ,i^f|i.V -:' : :i:-i^^,i-,y <; ;TBe Bill' emerged:■: 'ifrom :' Cbmmit|ee' without amendment,.!>ras read aTthird: 'tifae and^passed. ;f;:;- :'/V;;;;':'';:.£;,^;';:V.;-£'»■■.■,'