POLICING THE PACIFIC.

Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1914, Page 6

POLICING THE PACIFIC.

COMBINED DOMINIONS' NAVY. AUCKLAND M.P.'S VIEWS. t BT ■LIOTBIO TELIGRAPH COPTBIGHI FSB UNITED PEESB >bPOCLi.TION. | VANCOUVER, May 11. Mr A. M. Myers, M.P. for Auckland East, wiho was interviewed on arrival here, said that he was glad to recognise that tihe Imperial spirit was growing in Canada equally with New Zeailiand. The vital question for consideration, now was the defence of the Pacific. The time for definite action had arrived and) the foundations ought now to be laid for the future policing of tihe Pacific. Canada, Australia, and New Zeafland: ought to unite for this purpose. "While fully recognising their indebtedness to the British Navy, he feiU the time had arrived when tihe dominions to share more of the burdens of Empire. It was unpleasant to think that New Zealand's existence depended 1 on a friendly treaty wife Jarain. The creation of the nucleus of a navy at the present time was a step in the right direction. If the Empire ever fell aipart it would be due to the lack of sympathy and lack of imagination caused by laick of knowledge. Tho interchange of visits of the people's representatives throughout the Empire was eminently desirable.

"MOST UNSATISFACTORY."

MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

AUCKLAND, May 12. | In referring to the naval question this evening the Minister for Defence (Hon. Jas. Allen) stated, to a reporter that nothing further had t-ranspired lately regarding the suggested Imperial Defence Conference. "No date ,has been named'," he said, "but the question is one that must be settled shortly. In view of the breakdown of the 1909 agreement we must know where we are with regard to the future defence of the Pacific, and Australia, more particularly, must know where she is. Aus, tralia hfis done more than she was required to .do under-the 1909 agreement, and the position from her point of view, as well as that of New Zealand, is most unsatisfactory." j

A NEW ZEALAND NAVY.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS.

WELLINGTON, May 12

Regarding the statement made by the Minister for Marine at Oamaru regarding the question of naval defence, Sir Joseph Ward says he can only express astonishment that a responsible Minister 'of the Crown should have indulged in euch a statement. "I have always | stood .straight out for New Zealand 'be--1 ing associated with and attached to the Imperial Navy," said Sir Joseph Ward, "as it has been from the time I took a direct interest in the matter, by contributing«a subsidy to the Imperial Government for naval defence purposes. The Reform Government. stood for a local navy, and it repealed last session the Act by which the Dominion gave a "direct contribution of £IOO,OOO per annum to the British Government, and passed a Naval Defence Act providing for a local navy, the nucleus of which, was announced by the Prime Minister, and supported by the Minister for Defence, to be one Bristol cruiser. _ The attempt by the Minister for Marine at Oamaru to mislead the public was apparent when he quoted from a speech delivere'd by mc at the Imperial Conferen?e in 1911 with a view to making the public believe that I was favorable' to heavier expenditure for naval defence than is the Reform Government. Such is incorrect. The speech from which Mr Fisher quoted extracts was in support of a resolution moved by me at the Imperial Conference, "That the Empire has now reached a .stage of development which renders' it expedient ijiat there should be an Imperial Council of State with representatives from all the self-governing parts of the Empire, in theory and in fact advisory to the Imperial Government on all questions affecting the interests of his Majesty's dominions overseas." The reference to naval matters which has been quoted was only one of a number of arguments I used in support of that resolution. I never at any time, either at the Imperial Conference or elsewhere, suggested the severance of New Zealand from its attachment to the British Navy, or the establishment directly or indirectly, of a local navy. The cost of a local nary as suggested by the Massey Government would, in my opinion, be enormous compared to what I was outlining at the Imperial Conference—an Empire navy, not a local navy."