AN HISTORIC OFFER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 13

AN HISTORIC OFFER.

GIFT BATTLE-CRUISER.

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND. TWENTY-ONE YEARS AGO. Twenty-one years ago to day New Zealand's historic offer of a. dreadnought to the British Navy was made. The decision was reached at a time of crisis in the defence of the British Empire when a memorable debate in the House of Commons had revealed that Germany was making a determined bid to threaten the suprtmacy of the British Navy on the seas.

Sir Joseph Ward, who was then Prime Minister, had the whole of Cabinet and most of the country behind him in tho very prompt offer he made to provide the cost of the immediate building and arming of a first-class battleship of the most modern type. He added that if events showed it to be necessary New Zealand would provide the cost of a second battleship, also of the most modern type. The Dominion, and indeed the whole Empire, was greatly stirred by this most significant. gesture.

'The burden lying upon the British nation for naval expenditure is at present enormous, and every loyal subject of the Crown must feel that in a time of crisis like this he is called upon to help the Motherland with more than words," said Sir Joseph, in a message to the New Zealand Herald. "This is a time when any waiting or halting on the part of the New Zealand Government would enormously lessen the value of any assistance wo might eventually give, and I feel confident that a matter touching our national existence will be treated as above party consideration, and will appeal to every section of the community as the right and proper thing' to do. "Apart from the moral effect of this offer, it has to be remembered that even upon the grounds of self-interest it is amply justified, since in this country the value of our national and our private wealth is now nearly £<500,000,000, and this largely depends upon the British Navv for its security and defence."

This spectacular gift, although winning widespread approval, was also sharply criticised, not from lack of sympathy with the spirit of it, but on the ground that Parliament ought to have been called together and consulted on so momentous a matter. Others felt that the urgency of the needs of the British .Navy and its perilous position had been somewhat overdrawn in the heat of debate.

H.M.S. New Zealand, the battle cruiser which was the practical result of the offer, played such a part in the world war five years later as finally to silence all criticism. The New Zealand was in active commission throughout the struggle, and took a foremost place in the Battle of Jutland. Valuable historic relics from her are now housed in the war section of the War Memorial Museum.

New Zealand, was represented by Sir Joseph Ward at the Imperial Defence Conference held in London some months after his offer was made and it was there that the type of vessel to be built was decided on. Legislative authority was granted for raising a loan of £2,000,000 to cover the cost of the battleship, the actual cost of which proved to be £1.795,166. H.M.S. New Zealand was launched on July 1, 1911, and was commissioned in November of the following year. She visited New Zealand.