The Empire Navy.

Evening Star, Issue 17793, 15 October 1921, Page 6

The Empire Navy.

“ Thk British Empire,” said Mr Massey, recoiling on l:is Imperial mission, ” was tha most important factor in preserving the peace of the world to-day.” And the British Empire ia building four new warships. I hey will bo Empire ships in a new and special sense, because the entire British Commonwealth will contribute to the cost of them. “ I believe,” said the Prime Minister, ” it is the beginning of a new ora.” It may bo so, but the new era thus envisaged is not the one to which we could look forward most joyfully at this time, when all countries are feeling the strain of war impoverishment, when warships cost more than they ever did before, and the prophets of the League of Nations and tho Washington Conference have revived hopes of a day, however distant it may be still, when nations will bo secure without tho armaments which make the last word of deadlines.? and expense. Mr Massey’s reference to the. four ships is another reminder of the limitations to which tho work of tho League and of the Conference must be subject for an in<ietiiiito time to come, whatever results of value are achieved by them. They may set bounds to future expenditure on armaments; they will not bring a new ora at onro to pass in which the world will be able to dispense with thorn. The four new ships aro needed by tho British Empire because tho Powers that may agree to reduce their building programmes for the future must begin from tho same mark, and the ships of America and Japan which will offset these British monsters aro already being built. No apology is needed for the action of tho Imperial Conference in supporting this new r programme. The safety of its sea communications is a, vital necessity of the British Empire. It does not, as Mr Massey seemed to think, need a navy larger than that of any other Power. There is no need for us to struggle to outbuild America, with whom we shall never come to blows. But it does need a navy as large as that of any other Power, and that is all that has been contemplated by tho Imperial policy. It is right that British Dominions should contribute in accordance with their wealth mud power to the cost of such a navy. They will feel more respect for themselves when they do. We have had our naval protection in New Zealand at a mere fraction of tho cost per head which has fallen on tho British taxpayer. Now tho time has come when, oppressed by his other war loads, ho can no longer hear the burden. It is not only considerations of fair play and decency that require us to take a larger share of it; an efficient navy for tho protection of the Dominions cannot be maintained unless they are prepared to cany their full shar<? of the cost, increased payments for our naval defence will not come duo immediately. Tho basis of their allocation will not ho fixed before tho next Imperial Conference. It is suggested that tho money may be found out of New Zealand’s share of tho German reparations. So that windfall, which is loss than a certainty, will be mortgaged in an appreciable degree before it comes. It is not a suggestion that can be called inspiriting. Tho money would be useful for so many things in these days besides that of naval protection. As much of it as is spent on that need, moreover, will bo spent chiefly upon tho biggest ships. And, whatever may be tho value of capital ships to-day, experience has shown that they do not m,ove far from their bases. Even tho British Admiralty might find it an impracticable task to support many of thorn in the Pacific. Tho monsters of the .American navy, it is to bo expected, will not cross that ocean as often* as Lord Jellicne’s fleet doubled across tho North Sea. Wo shall pay our increased rate for tho Empire Navy; to shirk that duty at tho British taxpayer’s expense would bo unthinkable, even if it were practicable. But tho need is untimely enough to give us new cause to hope for tho best success of tho efforts of the League and Conference, meant to set hounds to tho .burden in future.