NEW ZEALAND'S DUTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S DUTY.

CANADA'S FINE EXAMPLE.

HON. J. ALLEN'S MISSION.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Lawrence, Friday.

| At a public meeting held this evening, ' the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) referred to the question of defence, stating that ho did not think the people of this country could deal with a more important question at the present time than that of naval defence In particular. Let him explain the position. They had, as he had told them, a very good scheme of land defence provided for on the Statute Book. That scheme cost approximately £500.000 per annum, and the operation of the Act was in the hands and under the control of experienced and capable men. The best lines of development were being pursued, but as regards naval defence he wes not so well satisfied with their position. Kera was the position in which New Zealand found herself to-day : Their contribution to the Imperial navy was, roughly, £250,000 per annum, which included interest and sinking fund on what was

termed the New Zealand "■• Dreadnought. One hundred and fifty . thousand pounds went for interest and sinking fund-for the Dreadnought, and £100,000 as an annual contribution. New Zealand was, supposed to-day to be under the protection of wha}, might be termed the Chinese squadron of the Imperial fleet, with its headquarters at Hongkong. They are supposed to have m times of peace on the East Coast two British cruisers, three torpedo destroyers, and two submarines. He found no fault with those ships, but they were not fight- ; 'ng-sships as compared with a battleship, or » first-class armoured cruiser. So far as it was possible .to judge they were ships which v.ere to protect their harbours, their wants, and their trade routes. He had received that afternoon a copy of a cablegram which had that . day ' come from Canada to New Zealand. Mi'. Massey then .read the cablegram respecting the Canadian naval proposals. He thought it would be the opinion of his audience, and it agreed with his own, that what Canada was proposing to do was simply splendid. (Applause.) Canada had risen to the occasion in a magnificent manner, and he could not express it in any - other • terms. (Applause.) Hon. James Allen was going to England. He knew the minds of his colleagues on naval defence, and he would have an opportunity of conferring with the Imperial naval authorities in Britain. The mombers of the New Zealand Government had known that these negotiations were going on between : Britain • and Canada, and he was delighted at the result. Mr. Allen would represent New Zealand at any conferences with' the Imperial authorities at Home, and. knowing the latter's Imperial sentiments he had no hesitation in saying that the Government had the utmost confidence in him, and that he would represent the Dominion worthily and well.

When Mr. Allen came back to New Zealand the New Zealand Government, would be able to declare its policy from a naval point of view, and ho asked tho people to have patience and wait until then, but here was the position: Canada had done its duty as one of the nations bordering

on the Pacific, Australia was doing its duty in its own way, and it remained for New Zealand to do its duty. It might cost us more money, it probably would, but if ever the New Zealand Government found it necessary to ask the people .for more money for the purpose of naval defence to protect onr coasts and our harbours and our trade routes ho was certain the people of New Zealand would respond in a manner worthy of themselves and worthy of the occasion.