CANADA AND THE NAVY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 7

CANADA AND THE NAVY

SIR WILFRID LAURIER'S VIEW.

CANADIAN FLEET' SUGGESTED.

ALWAYS READY TO AID

BRITAIN.

RULE BRITANNIA" IN

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph —Pres»

(Received December 13. 9.40 p.m.) Ottawa, December 13. The first pronouncement by Sir Wilfrid Laurier (Leader of the Oppo, sition) on Mr. Borden's navy policy was made in the House of Commons yesterday. He stated that the proposal is un-Canadian and un-British. Sir "Wilfrid advocated a purely Canadian fleet with super-Dread-noughts as central units, built and manned entirely by Canada, the fleet . being always ready xf . Britain. He argued that the necessity of Britain guarding her coasts by the withdrawal yof the ships from the other seas* gave Canada the opportunity to guard her own coasts with her own fleets, as Australia was doing. Continuing, he said that he welcomed the proposition to take the navy question out of politics. That was now too late, however, as the Conservatives had insisted on making it a party question. Sir Wilfrid alleged that at the last election on hundreds of platforms in Quebec the question: " What do we owe to England?" was answered by shouts of nothing."

Other speakers vigorously denied ! kit' Wilfrid Lauder's statement. After Sir Wilfrid had concluded his speech the House sang '/Rule Britannia." Mr. Borden read a memorandum from Mr. Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) stating that it was impossible now to build Dreadnoughts in Canada. The . Admiralty, how- ! ever, would let contracts for naval vessels of smaller size to Canadian j shipbuilders.