A SECOND CRUISER

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 45, 21 August 1924, Page 9

A SECOND CRUISER

FOR NEW ZEALAND WATERS «

NO. SUBMARINE FLOTILLA FOR

PRESENT

"The importance of tire provision of a -second light cruiser at the earliest possible moment cannot be over-estimated," states Commodore Beal in his annual report upon the New. -Zealand Naval Forces. '■ ...

"Quite apart from Imperial considerations," he states, "with one light cruiser only there is an entire lack of competition, except on the rare occasions of a. visit being paid to Australia., or a ship of the Australian Navy coming to New Zealand. Competition is the keystone to efficiency, and,, however good the personnel of an individual 'ship may be, it is impossible to maintain- the highest possible ■ standard without competition with at least one other ship of the same or a similar claps. For the peace-time needs of the station, embracing as it does a very large area, including a considerable number of islands in the South lacific, it is highly desirable that another ship should be provided to enable the various ports to be visited more frequently. It is not contemplated that a 'submarine flotilla should be established in.New Zealand waters for the present." «'hen. the naval defence i-eport was brought down in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) criticised the expenditure on naval defence, and the. outlay proposed to be devoted to an additional cruiser. He rejoiced that the "Singapore scheme had been dropped, and said he considered that the New Zealand .Government's policy in regard to defence was an- "incendiary" one. In view cf the changed European situation, he said, they should go in for a reduction of naval armaments. Mr. Lee spoke in condemnatory fashion of the speeches of Admiral Field, and said it was a remarkable thing that he should have been allowed to deliver propagandist addresses. . Talking of the position of Governor-General of the Dommion Mr. Lee said he had nothing against Governors who were admirals because some Governors were admirable' but he did think it dangerous that the Oovernment should, apparently, be out i try *° Set an admiral who would be placed in a position where he could perform propaganda work. He disagreed with the policy of insisting that it should be a naval or military man who should come to this country as Governor, so that he could strengthen the hands of' the military and naval people in the country. New Zealand should follow the Jme taken by Canada and other parts of the world, and embark upon a policy calculated to remove the cause of wars Ihe blind, stupid, and foolish policy of piling up armaments only caused wars Mr Lee said that the only way New Zealand could- get recruits for its Division of the Royal.Navy was by giving' bonuses to the recruiting sergeants;, thus potting a price on the heads of the boys of New Zealand. In his view, the proper way to defend New Zealand was not to pile up armaments, but to increase its population and make its people happy and contented by giving them decent and healthy homes and good industrial condi-