POLITICAL ITEMS

Grey River Argus, 2 July 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL ITEMS

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NAVY.

MR MYERS'S SUPPORT

(Our Parliamentary Reporter)

By Telegraph.— Special to "Argus."

, WELLINGTON, July 1. The no-confidence debate this after noon lacked interest till Mr Myers rose, and fresh from contact with the best thought in the Motherland, gave his view on. the naval question. At the outset Mr Myers paid a sincere and graceful compliment to the Hon.' J. Allen for the non-party attitude he had always taken in matters' of defence, even when., he w.as in Opposition. Mr Myers went on in a manner that could not have been very pleasing to I Sir Joseph Ward and his followers. ' He said that in view of tlie fact that the Home Government had not carried out the original agreement they were now' quite justified in reconsidering ihe ,whole situation.

There was, he added, justification for reviewing the whole position in view of its serious importance. (Gov eminent supporters: Hear, hear).

?.lr Myers went on to talk of the necessity of a continuity of policy. ■and added that in view of our restrict ions upon the Asiatic race, and our preent dependence for our safety upon a treah' with Japan, surely* we were justified in considering- what was the best line of policy to pursue in thr futtrwiHe. believed that tKe Government were justified in putting 'on the Statute Book the Act they did last session. His only regret was that apparently there had been some vacillation on the part of the Government. He would, without any hesitation, stand alone wi f .h the Prime Minister to defend the former statements, which, apparently now, he hesitated to champion. The personnel contribution at the present time was the most valuable contribution we could offer. He believed New Zealand , would be on sound ground in providing- the nuecleus of a local navy, and tie would '•heairtiiijv Ishippton ft. - * We should have small flotillas hero We had reached a crisis in our history, when it was of the utmost imnortance that everything- possible should be done to ensuTe the strength and unity of the Empire, and this was only possible by the pursuance of a strong- and vigorous defence po! icy.