ABOUT A NAVAL ADDRESS.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 41, 17 August 1923, Page 7

ABOUT A NAVAL ADDRESS.

The recent address to members of Parliament on nava! defence was referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday,.the subject being broached by Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East), who' said that Commodore Hotham had advocated the building of merchantmen which could be strengthened -for defence purposes when the need arose.

At a later stage Mr. A. R. Harris (Waitemata) raised the question as to whether Mr. Lee was justified in referring to what Commodore Hotham had said to members of Parliament in confidence I ,l*-, r tt. T E- Holland (Bullerl considered that Mr. Le e had don e the ritjht thincr There was no suggestion that the addrets was to b e regarded as secret. He was not present at the address himself, but he believed that it was delivered in support of the. Singapore naval base. He

b'elieyed that reference had also been niSaiWtt'e aorts- af Auckland.- -What i^is said in the latter connection, however, was only in confirmation of what Sjlr. Lee had said previously on the floor of the House.. ''Hdw,' then; "could" there have been any violation of confidence, or any improper use of information, on Mr. Lee's part? "If a military or naval ofecer is brought here for the purpose j>f placing before us certain facts which yi is hoped will influence us in the House," proceeded Mr. Holland, " tr»n tijere slipulct be no stipulation thatthe iirformatiqn;1 * .given should be kept secret."" Mr. Holland said that he would not attend any addresses unless members .were given .when legislation was brought down. •The Minister of Defence (the Hon. Sir B>. Heaton Rhodes) declared that Commodore Hotham had not been brought to. the House to address members—he was invited by some members to give the address. • -: ■■■■•■- • • -

SMr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) i£Quite right; I invited him."