NAVY LEAGUE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 233, 14 September 1934, Page 9

NAVY LEAGUE

i ADDRESS AT WAIPUKURAU MR DARROCH’S VISIT. From Our Own Correspondent WAIPUKURAU, September 13. “The sea is our life,” said Mr R. Darroch, honorary secretary of the Navy League, in opening his address at the Waipukurau Chamber of Commerce Luneheon Club to-day. “By the use of it the Empire waa formed; by holding it the Empire developed. If we fail to hold it, and to appreciate its value, the Empire will perish.” Going on to deal with the Navy League, the speaker said that first and foremost the League was not a militaristic body, and in no way fostered the military spirit; rather it was one of the most peaceful bodies there were. It was formed some 40 years ago by a few Britishers, who, feeling that the Navy had been left more or less to chance, bonded together and founded the League. The idea was fostered by the writings of a journalist, and as a result the League was brought into being and grew rapidly, gradually spreading to all parts of the Empire. The League did not urge an increase in naval power; all it asked for was adequate naval protection for the British Empire, and of the 85,000 miles of seaways. In the Navy lay the Empire's strength, security, and well-being, and if it were neglected, then that security was gone. The British Navy had, till 1914, not been challenged for 109 years, since the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, at which engagement it achieved a great victory. Then came the Great War in 1914. “I sincerely hope that there will never be another challenge for another 109 years,” said Mr Darroch, “but I am afraid that that, unfortunately, is not possible.” EQUITABLE DISARMAMENT. Touching on the disarmament question, the speaker said that the Navy League was in favour of an equitable and favourable disarmament of all nations- and with this spirit had attended the disarmament conference. The policy of the Navy League was the gradual and simultaneous reduction of navies, but he was sorry to say, that was not the policy of the nations of the world to-day, and to illustrate that fact gave instances of whore nations were increasing their naval power in the race for armaments. He made an appeal to listeners to keep watch, and to see that they had a navy sufficiently strong and capable to protect the Empire if and when the necessity arose. “The selfishness of the individual and the selfishness of the nations are responsible for the world’s troubles,” continued Mr Darroch. It was not so much the race for armaments, but the thought underlying that prompted the Powers to build up their navies and their armies, to endeavour to bring them to a state where they were better than those of their neighbour. The result was that an intense nationalism sprang up, a sense of nationalism that to-day was stronger than was ever known before. PROTECTING SHIPPING LANES. Going on to speak of the shipping trade and its effects, Mr Darroch said that if the Empire merely bound itself together and the parts of the Empire trade together they would be saved, but unfortunately there were barriers everywhere. Once Britain was supreme in this sphere, when British ships carried British goods and traded from British ports. To-day, however, the position was vastly different and the British merchant service was gradually losing ground, and in this connection he quoted figures showing the annual loss ,in tonnage over a period of years. Foreign shipping heavily subsidised, had forced its way in. Some foreign countries subsidised their shipping trade to a very large extent in order to get control of the shipping, their idea being to get as much as possible for as little a return as they eould. As far as trade was concerned, we in New Zealand felt that we should buy our own goods first, and as goods were made in New Zealand from New Zealand-grown wool, why should we go past them and buy from foreign countries? That sentiment was correct, but there was also another phase to consider, that of “Buy British.” It should be New Zealand first, British-made next in order, and the foreign article last. After all, England was our biggest customer, the one that took most of our primary products, and if in return wo did not buy from England on an equitable and reciprocal basis, we could hardly expect her to take our produce. We should buy from England fairly in return, even to the extent of paying more for the English article than for the foreign. Reciprocity in trade should come first and foremost, and trade with the Empire before trade with foreign countries. Another factor in buying New Zea-land-made goods first, was that, by so doing, the purchasers -were assisting the unemployed by creating a demand and providing more work for New Zealanders. There was room in New Zealand for the reorganisation of the various manufacturing concerns, but the present was not the time for any drastic reorganisations. In conclusion, the speaker urged, his listeners to stand for an adequate Navy to protect the Empire, to travel in British ships, and to buy New Zealand goods first, Empire manufactures next, and the foreign article last.