CANADIAN NAVY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 21 May 1912, Page 6

CANADIAN NAVY.

THE POLICY EXPLAINED. The naval policy of the present Canadian Cabinet was broadly outlined in February in the Dominion Senate by Mr Lougheed. leader o£ the Government in that House, when a Bill was introduced for the repeal of the Naval Act of the Laurier Administration. .Mr Lougheed, the Government leader in the Senate, pointed ou« t nat.when the late Government had brought down the policy of the organisation of a separate navy, the attitude of the then Conservative Opposition was that if Canada committed itself to a naval programme, it should "be one along lines approximate to united action, with the centre of control in the Imperial Navy. The vip.w of the Government of the day had prevailed, and thi present Naval Act was passed, under which an important department had been organised, including the maintenance of two training ships, the Niobe and the Bainbow, and the establishment of a naval college, besides the control of fisheries and the protection of the Jiydrojrraphic survey and wireless tc-legraph6. The present Government, had, therefore, inherited obligations which in the public interest it would be inadvisable ro repudiate, except for cancelling the contract for the construction of six vessels, which would have cost 20,000.000 dollars. Mr Lougheed added : —"During the approaching recess it is the Government's intention to consult- the Admiralty of Great Britain as to how this branch of the public servicfi can be made oi most value, not only to Canada, but to the Empire, and after due deliberation I do" not doubt that next session our Parliament and Government will be able to snbmif- a policy which will command the confidence of the people of Canada."