EMPIRE DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22998, 28 March 1938, Page 10

EMPIRE DEFENCE

IMPORTANCE OF NAVY RETIRED ADMIRAL'S VIEWS POSITION OF DOMINIONS Whatever navnl defences New Zealand possesses must be regarded as part of an Imperial defence scheme, accord-1 inc to Vice-Admiral J. E. T. Harper, retired, who was the first New Zeelander to reach Hag rank. Vice-Admiral Harper arrived at Auckland by the Tamnroa from Southampton yesterday on a visit to his son. Lieutenant J. A. Harper, at present serving in Now Zealand in H.M.S. Leith. Naval dofence schemes of the Dominions, said Vice-Adniiral Harper, were to ho looked at broadly. It might be suggested that New Zealand should obtain some more warships, but on the other hand the country might bo defended over 2000 milos away, as was the case in the la<st war, when there was not a cruiser in any Now Zealand port. If such was the caso the vessels on the Now Zealand station would be required elsewhere and thoy would provide the dofence necessary at a distance. It was to be remembered that they were not on the station merely for the sake of Now Zealand as a separate unit, but wero part of the naval protection of tho whole Empire. Asked whether ho thought Now Zealand spent enough on its naval defence when it voted about £700,000 a year for tho purpose, Vice-Admiral Harper said this sum did not represent as high an average a head of population as was the caso in Groat Britain. Both New Zealand and Great Britain were in the same category when it camo to defence, since each was dependent upon its seaborne trade, and this trade must bo defended.

Vice-Admiral Harper alt>o mentioned the question whether air or sea defence was tho best protection for such countries. The air arm, he said, had come to stay as an effective subsidiary, and it would bo foolish to suggest that it should be overlooked. At tho same time, however, Great Britain's, power lay in her Navy and it was m her warships that she and her Dominions who depended for their existence upon the sea must place their greatest reliance for safety.