EVENING SITTING.

Northern Advocate, 28 August 1913, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

NAVAL DEFENCE. The House resumed at 7.30. An Imprest Supply Bill ( £ 829,300) was introduced by Governor's Message. On the second reading Sir Joseph Ward raised the question of naval

defence. He claimed that the Government had now been in office long enough to be able to formulate a policy and it was their duty to disclose that policy to the House. The Admiralty had declared for one navy. Any attempt to establish an independent, fleet meant ruination to the Dominion, not only because of the enormous expense but because we would be ranging ourselves with the greater Powers iv. the race for armaments. Mr Allen (Minister for Defence) said he discussed the matter of defence with the Home authorities but had to leave before the details of the discussion were completed. A letter was now on the way from England and this he hoped would finally close the negotiations. When that letter came to hand the Government would be able to place their policy before the House in final form. He was definitely in favour of one navy for Imperial purposes but thought that for local defence the Dominion was not getting justice. The agreement entered into by the Admiralty in 1909 had not been carried out but until the arrival of information from England he could not say what responsibility the Government would ask the House to assume. Mr Massey said the Admiralty had not carried out their share of the agreement entered into in 1909. New Zealand had done her part. He would never be satisfied until he saw a British fleet in the Pacific strong enough to resist any combination that might arise. The debate was continued by Messrs Myers, Payne, Witty, Webb, Buxton and Veitch. j The Bill was passed and the House rose at 12.15.