SEEKING SHELTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 8

SEEKING SHELTER.

Soja; of the ministerial newspapers seem to imagine they can effectually stifle criticism of the Government's foolish naval policy by saying that Sir Joseph Ward asked the Admiralty to station warships in New Zealand waters five years ago. Their own slavish devotion to party, illustrated when they swallowed their convictions without hesitation in order to applaud tho Hon James Allen's local navy scheme, makes it hard for them to realise that the progressive sections of the community do not take opinions ready-made from any party leader. If

Sir Joseph Ward had ever proposed to establish a. local nai-y and leavo the whole burden of Imperial defence on tho shoulders of the IVI other Country we should havo condemned his plan as heartily as we are now condemning Mr Allen's scheme. But as a. matter of fact there is no parallel between Sir Joseph's suggestion to tho Imperial authorities in 1909 and the Reform Ministry's naval memorandum of 1913. Tho Liberal leader has not departed at any time from the policy ho laid down in 100 S in a communication to the Governor regarding the increase of the dominion's naval subsidy from £40,000 to £IOO,OOO a year:— Recognising how important it is for tho protection of the Empire that the Navy should be at tho absolute dispo .il of the Admiralty, your Excellency's advisers do not desire to suggest any conditions as to the locations of the ships, as they are confident that the truest interests of the people of New Zealand will be best served" by having a powerful navy under the ent control of those responsible for directing it in timo of peace or war. What the Government does feel concorned in is tho Navy, in whatever part of tho world it may bo, should be ifder one control, so thnt tho most effective results for the defence of all portions of tho Empire may be assured. Sir Joseph laid down jio conditions when he conveyed the offer of a Dreadnought to the Imperial Government early in 1909 or when ho discussed the question of Pacific defence with the Admiralty later in that year. He suggested, it is true, that it was "desirable that a portion of the China-Pacific unit" should he stationed in New Zealand waters in time of peace, under the direct control of the Imperial authorities, but at the timo that suggestion was offered the need for the concentration of the Empire's naval forces had not been fully revejded. Sir Joseph und his colleagues did not attempt to hind tho Admiralty in any way in 1909 or in subsequent years, and if they had remained in office they undoubtedly would have accepted without demur the assurance of the Home authorities that it would bo wasteful and unnecessary to station useful fighting ships in this corner of the world, where no enemy is within reach and no danger threatens. Yet the Reform newspapers profess to discover in the suggestion made by the Liberal leader five years ago a justification for the present Government's attempt, first to dragoon the Admiralty into sending modern warships to New Zealand and tlien to secure public approval of a local navy scheme, involving the withdrawal of the dominion's support from the Imperial fleet. The ministerial apologists are heing driven to strange shifts in' their anxiety to serve the sacred cause of party.