DOMINION AND NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18158, 2 August 1922, Page 8

DOMINION AND NAVY.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT,

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. STATEMENT AT LATER STAGE. rBY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. In tho House of Representatives tonight, tho Minister for Defence, Sir .R. He a ton Rhodes, moved the second reading of the Naval Defence Amendment JBill, If<> said although the whole question of naval defence was open to the House to discuss, he did not propose to enter upon that, leaving it to the Prime Minister to do so when speaking on the Financial Statement. , , The amendments proposed by the Bill were almost entirely of a machinery I'ftture. and affected principally tho status of officers and men. Mr. T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition j he thanked the Minister for suggesting that members might d.scuss the whole que&tion of naval defence, because the Government was anxiouu to jret ideas as to what their policy should he. Personally, his mmd was made up, but he was not going to give his pohcy to the Government, It was for the Gov. exnment to bring down a policy, and for she Opposition to deal with it. There would be time enough for that when the Government had dended what they would do, in view of the Washington Gonferenco and Sir John Salmond's report thereon, A* to the Bill itself, there was nothing to oppose in it, as there was nothing in it that was not law already. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Pnrty, said our navy at present was something of a joke, but he was not so sure there was nothine in the Bui Ml at could be objected to. He commented on subsection C of clause 3, which, he caid, would permit a boy of 18 or 19 vaaars to enlist for a lengthy period. A W at that age was not of mature mind, ant" might be inSuced to do something; he would afterwards regret. No boy shoe Id be allowed to enlist for longer than would brincj him to the age of manhood 1 when ho could then do aa he pleased. Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha), discusmng the general question of naval policy, said it was perfectly clear we were not able to dispense with the protection of t»ie Britibh Navy. That being so, we should face our responsibilities and make a proper contribution to the upkeep of the uavy. .... The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) asked what was the Government's naval policy? What did the Prime Minister tell the last Imperial Conference in regard to New Zealand's views on the naval pc-licv ? Did ho say we favoured a local navy ? If so, he wished to say the idea of a local navy was exploded. Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) said if we weire to make a per capita contribution to the navy all must nave representation on the taxing body. That meant we would have a voice in saying whether it should be peace or war, and that he did not think Britain would grant. . Sir R. Hen ton Rhodes, in reply, said the Labour Party was apposed to all expenditure on defence, and Mr. criticism was only in line with the party's policy. He admitted there was defective wording in sub-section C of clause 3, and he would have an amendment prepared which would provido against boys enlisting for more than a certain period. The Bill was read a second time.

PER CAPITA OONTBIBUTrON. SUGGESTION BY' THE LEAGUE. fßst ntXatULVH.-'PRESS ASSOCIATION .J WELLINGTON. Taeoday. At the Navy League Conference to-day Mr. A. G. Lmnn } Auckland, moved the following remit:—The Auckland branch of the Navy League is strongly of the opinion that the time has arrived when the Frime Minister should be asked to lay before Parliament, for its immediate consideration, the question of the Dominion's share in the cost of naval protection for the Empire. At. the Imperial Conference the Dominions agreed that the maintenance of the navy was the common concern oii the Empire, but so far no Dominion has seriously considered what its share of the burden should be, which means that v.*e are collectively leaving the Old Country alone to bo crushed under the very hearvy hurden of defence which should justly be shared bv the whole of tho British Dominions. We therefore sucerest for the consideration of the Prime Minister that this Dominion should contribute to the upkeep of the navy at tho same rote per capita of our population as is contributed bv the taxpayers of Great Britain. In the event of this remit being passed by the conference, it is advisable that the Government should be approached immediately in the matter, and that the branches of the league take steps to eecure the support of members of Parliament in their districts. In moving the remit, Mr. Lunn maintained that the idea of establishing a Mew Zealand Navy was out of the question at present. We must, therefore, he maintained, took to the Imperial Navy for our sea defence, and we should do our duty in contributing to the maintenance of that navy. The resolatiori was seconded by Mr. C. P. J. Pollock.

Mr. H. Atmore, M.P., suggested that public attention should be f©cussed on the naval defence question by membero of the league. After a lengthy discussion the remit was carried. There wore remits truin Auckland, Christchuroh, Dunedin, and Hawkn's Bay on educational propaganda, urgifig the importance of fostering in the young a strong patriotic sentiment and appreciation of the value of sci power in its widest sense. It was stated that the league should get the sympathy of tjje Education Department and school committees so that this instruction should form part olf the curriculum. All The remits were carried.

It v/as decided that the policy of the league be that laid down by the grand council of the Navy League in London : "To secure as tho primary object of the national policy tho complete naval protection of British subjects and British commerce all the world over; to urge this policy 011 all citizens of tno British Empire and upon the Governments of the day ; to spread information showing the vital importance to the British Empire of maintaining naval strength to ensure the permanent safety of trade and the Empire; to see that the British flag flies in every part rif the world; to watch the development of the air force with a view to ensuring a proper co-ordination naval and air force strength."