A STRONG NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 28 January 1929, Page 10

A STRONG NAVY

STILL A VITAL NEED

BEST GUARANTEE OF PEACE

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day

"Almost ninety per cent, of the cost of upkeep of the Navy goes in wages and pensions," said Mr. John Alexander, president of the New Zealand Navy League, to-day in opening the conference at Auckland. "This does not mean so much real national expense as it would appear to do. Tho money expended on tho Navy is not like an enormous payment which actually goes out of tho Kmpire to pay war debts, or interest on them. If more money were expended on the creation and upkeep of tho Navy, it would relieve the unemployment trouble and the unemployment 'dole.' The question is not, 'Can" we afford a Navy?'—the position is that wo cannot afford to bo without an all-sufficient Navy."

Mr. Alexander expressed pleasure that the activities of the Royal Naval Ecserve had been extended. One of tlio remits dealt with the formation of Sea Scouts. , The matter doubtless would be fully discussed, and the movemont was sure to receive the support of citizens as a whole. "I was told tho other day," said Mr. Alexander, "that there is now no need for a Navy as the peace of the world has.been assured by the Washington Conference; also, that as America has now ratified tho Kellogg Pact thoro is no need for the British Navy. Much as all of us long for peace—and none long moro for peace than do members of the Navy League—we must look the facts in tho face." He traced the history -of international conferences, treaties, and pacts, and quoted Mr. Henry Ford as saying, "All the treaties that have been signed to date have served only to prevent such wars as no one wanted, therefore denouncing war is not important." Mr. Alexander stressed the fact that an efficient Navy is the best safeguard of peace, and that meant everything to New Zealand.

The Deputy-Mayor (Mr. A. J. Entrican) said that' the cause of peace and the name of the British Navy' had always been synonymous. A remit from the Auckland and Wellington branches expresses sympathy with every reasonable reduction of Naval forces by international agreement, but expresses tho hopo that those responsible for tho preservation of the Empire's Naval forces will not allow them to be reduced to unsafe limits.