NAVAL DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17250, 28 August 1919, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

-as, ; :.. . NEW ZEALAND'S DUTY. LORD JELLICOE'S VIEWS. LARGER CONTRIBUTION. DOMINION UNIT FAVOURED [bt telegraph.— association.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A deputation from the Navy League waited on Lord Jellico© to-day and asked lim for his advice on the present work md future operations in the Dominion. I" reply, Lord Jelhcoe said ;—'' iiefo. [ can say anything of an authoritative lature it i s necessary for me to report officially to the proper authorities, but there are, perha; s, one or two matters which are of interest to New Zeaiandens generally, and if my view* ;n these mat■era are of any value I -shall be verv pleased to make them known. One point ->£ very real importance is that the JNavv League should be absolutely and entirely free irom any suspicion ot political bias. Unless this is the case the whole value of the work of the league is seriously prejudiced. I have always heard from almost every quarter, and iron the short time I have been here 1 readily believe it, that if there is a Navy League which has done valuable work in th, past it is the New Zealand branch of the league. The patriotic naval spirit, which i s undoubtedly indisputably strong here, is due largely to the efforts of your league. I agree with you that the mam. and most important, part of the league's work is the educational part, because what is taught to the child at school and the impressions there created are ant to be 01 a lasting nature. * ° Question of Expenditure. ''On the other hand, of course, it is of little use realising the value of sea power unless it results in producing that power, md that can only be attained by the expenditure of pounds, .shillings, and pence. You have pointed out' that New Zealand's contribution per head has in the past been something like 6 Bd. 1 am afraid that if New Zealand is going to take a share in the maintenance of the defence 3f the Empire in the future in proportion to her population and trade, her contribution will be considerably more than that. The navy estimates in the United Kingdom in the year before* the war were slightly under £50,000,000, and in view of the- large increase in pay which has been granted and the increased cost of material, supplies, and stores, I, do not see much possibility of future estimates being much reduced. 1 doubt if it will be possible for the estimates to be less than £1 per head of population of the UniVd Kingdom—say, £45,000,000, and if United Kingdom, with its own heavy burden of debt, can furnish a pound per head of its population I hope and trust that the Dominions will find themselves able to do the same. The Value of Bivalry. " New Zealand's contribution can be jne of tw sorts, either in money or in kind. If it is in kind I imagine that the sentiment of New Zealahoers would have them to maintain a local unit of the Imperial Navy, such unit beine manned as tar as possible by officers and men of New Zealand birth. The ships would be termed " New Zealand's unit of the Royal Navj." In such a manner the loyal and patriotic spirit of New Zealand would be a visible and tangible thing, and it would be apparent to the . Empire and the whole world that New Zealand had achieved something definite in which she could take a legitimate pride.. One of the finest things in "the wond for creating discipline and efficiency is the spirit of esprit de corps, and if New Zealand and Australia each have tjiits in the Royal Navy, and the two meet, a spirit of rivalry is bound to be set up, and this would, result in increased efficiency. As in football, cricket, and other sports, competition makes for efficiency. Ho Seal Difference. The advice therefore that I would offer to the league is to continue its extremely valuable work first as you yourselves recognise from the educational viewpoint, and secondly if there are any opposing elements in the country on the subject of contributions in money or in kind to try to bring these different points of view together by pointing oat that there is no real difference in opinion whether New Zealand gives in money or in kind —the spirit is exactly the same. It is a contribution to the Royal Navy. " In this matter I hope there 'will be unanimity of opinion in this country. The training of youths of this country would be a matter for your Defence Department. There are, of course, one or two things to be realised. Unless either the ships change about and get into big fleets, or thj officers and men do, they cannot become efficient.' You cannot make a navy out of a few ships. The New Zealand unit would have to work with the Royal Navy in war, and unless it had done 60 in peace there might easily be a lack of cohesion and loss of efficiency at a most critical period in our history. There are two ways to achieve the desired effect. First either to let the unit as a unit work with the Royal Navy, and secondly to change the officers and men about. The better way is. for the officers and men to go in other shipsInterchange makes for unity of thought, and unity of thought in the navy makes for success. Not only should we serve under one flag, we should also be one in thought, one in discipline, one in our aims, ideals, and loyalty. Naval College Not Necessary. "You ask me would it be necessary. For . New Zealand to have a naval college., This, I think, would not be worth while for some time yet. You also inquire whether boys should so directly to the navy from the naval college in Australia. Ye?, and it is a most excellent training college. About thirty <stdets join per annum, and they remain for four years. "In conclusion. I would say that I there will be no attempt to tie anyNew Zealand unit to New Zealand shores. This would be fatal to efficiency. Neither should there be any jealousies between different parts of New Zealand as to where the naval bases should be. Nothing but strategical considerations and - suitability of locality generally should be allowed to govern such a matter as this. I thank you again for the valuable work, in which you voluntarily engaged in continually promoting the spirit of the British Navy.'"