THE NAVE BASE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 17 June 1911, Page 7

THE NAVE BASE.

IO THE EDITOR

J Sii-j—There.is no more;enthusiastic ' advocate in this province that I ol Picton as a naval base. The advan- ! tages to be gained are legion, and ! comprise national and colonial in ' addition toprovincial. The priority of claim has already been discussed by Mr Griffiths in. his letter of the i I3th inst., but previously by a writer signing himself "Agricola" ,m "Ihe Dominion of 18th February, ; 1910, and later Ist March of the same 'year. For the benefitof those who did not see the- articles above referred to, and ■with .'apologies to "Agricpla," I-will touch upon some of the main points made out. The question of a site or sites for the naval base ' was asked by Mr Duncan, M.P-, in •the House in November 1909, when : the Prime Minister's reply was, "I Will be glad to have the question brought under the notice of his Excellency the Admiral." At this i'time, however, the Admiralty had partially decided' to: .recommend Auckland. . Since then the stranding of the s.s. Raipara has shown that the harbor-at1 tliis placfe. is not sufficierttly deep to admit of large boats, entering1 at low Jtide. In the ease of- Fictou there is sufficient depth of water at all times to admit the biggest ships ever made or to be made. It is centrally situated, easily -defended, has safe anchor ago ■ in close proximity for any ships that may have to leave the base, and always good shelter at Port Underwood, whence they coiild proceed in any direction at short notice. With Regard to the matter of a coaling station, Auckland maybe said for the •time being "tjo possess some, advantage ! in its supply of inland c6>al---that is, if sueli stuff can be called coal.■■.; as ' compared with; first-class steaming" • coal. .Qf course, it is absolutely j necessary v; tl>at " the supply of cpal [should, be beyond t*he possible reach of the enemy,. Sea-borne coal may at any time he seized by an enemy; biit'eoaX that would '"[ be supplied at Pieton'would be- immfine fioni,' this danger, as it would be carried by' rail through the Wairau \ alley f from Wiastpoyt, where the .best coal isrsuppliied for naval purposes. ; In ,adi dltidn to the coal supply, there would be the timber necessary for building, which; could also be'obtained by the siime) route. Th.© greatest navigator^ ; that ever visited these waters select- ■ jod ,the PiotoE Sounds for his base, and s^vent a cOnsiderablei time in. them } when .exploring New Zealand. 1; Captain Cook.recognised 'the value,of this base, and made use of his* knowledge in a most practical way. The great-esti-blow ever aimed against th© establishment of Pictoii ,a& a naval base was the pressure, that was hixJßgtit tor bear against Lord Kitcboner's visiting the Sounds, for had ieb^u given the ojoportunity of in*ap^cting these and Picton, the matter by; now would have been settled for sill time. \Surely, 'vrhen so impfcrtant .a matter was being decided a due xconsideration would be given to the genenalr welfare of the Dominion and i the best, results to tlie nation. vlompare,* then, gtjggraphically, the positions .of Aucklaiidv -and Picton, and we find\that at. Autokland , ihe, ; iiaVal base would be. 600; miles away '■■ j,*roih : the centre iof, the. Dominion, j While Picton' is/ th© 4'meridian of jNe^r, Zealand." Assuming that ]. W^ingtpa'^was^ j ers|<>f ajhostile fleet, reliefTcoiiMibe afforded ftorn Pictoii in three K»uys ' lihd^eV any circijiiistances; from ;Aii<|klard'twelve hou^s .if the; Mdc suited, and if not suitable probably •:t.hfe| following: day or ,'sol-^?-.lt.:y^ust' i ' ■be remeTnbered that this choice afftejet- '■ ing tH©. well-being of J^eflr Zealand is not;» question of a da^; a decade, df evettl a cehtury; it is for all time,' Vhen "this country will be populated millions.' Then, lastly, tliere, is the f point -£ha£, it Vis' undesirabje to. ppn:yert a; commercial port into. • a : 'r-base., '■;.■; Th& Experience '[ bf'; -tli© ■■ wc*|i,d teaohf>3 this ilessoh.^ '• Take for; v-witlt"?^;. ■, -'Tlie*e •%eyTi::liaire.|: points'3"e-;j 4.a^ii<> ;1 ;|[R|^^sß^::^:^^^at^he.! $iolis', %^|K^it'^>!;il^^y/:>3!E^e.7iis''-libi>:-f^ome^_ entlhusiasmi ■ fin \ ■:|>*i^Mc, :fflß^ef|iv aud ":^9,Kl c<>inbijfied !:i ■^l^'^Bi^jty^will- secur,e:ita,;us;:;tlie < ii^iii^-looK'^dvfpr^ ■deyelopjifent 6$ •';"• this rii.^^t^l^pr^viii.^'.' The Lea^xie of" I wlTicHi^'l am^ president has a^, twtKfold uipbjept.' viz., the closer settlement of the; JWairau .lands and the Blenheim>Tpphouso railway. . These two, are but adjuncts of the scheme, Picton as a naval base, and -this is nothing if it is not a link, in the great scheme^ of Empire defence

v V J. BARY, President of the Walrau Laiid and Railway League. . -• ' \ ■