THE COLONIES AND THE NAVY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 1

THE COLONIES AND THE NAVY

(From Oiir Special Correspondent.) LONDON. June 9. A recent speech of Mr Seddon’s, in which he is reported to have said that the naval events in the Far East ooirstituted an argument for increasing the colonial contributions to the navy, havo caused some comment in colonial circles in London. One or two official representatives of the colonies have been interviewed, but their remarks are guarded. Mr W. P. Peeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, said that, as Mr Sodden was Prime Minister of the colony, it was not for him to' criticise his utterances. “ The people of New Zealand are, and always have been,” he said, “ ready to consider any reasonable proposal to increase the naval subsidy if in return we get a better class of ship out there. “ I do not know that you can define this as bearing on the defence of the Empire. The preservation of a part of the Empire, of course, is an Imperial question; but it cannot be expected that the colonies will approach a question like this otherwise than with a view to their local position and requirements. The two things work together—it is a matter of patriotism and business combined.

“The suggestion made by Mr Seddon is not new. It has always been part of the policy of the colony to contribute to the navy, and the people and Parliament have been, and are, prepared to consider any reasonable oroposal for the improvement of the Australian squadron, even if it should involve a somewhat higher contribution.” Mr W. H. Janies, K.C., Agent-Gene-ral for West Australia, when interviewed, said: “Mr Sodden's tendency is to encourage an increased subsidy for the navy, and I am not aware that there exists in New Zealand a feeling, which is gaining strength in the Commonwealth, that our best contribution to naval defence is in the creation of a local navy and a local naval reserve “ Personally, I think the feeling is in favour of a naval contribution in kindof the same nature as a military contribution —rather than in money. Whatever step, however, is taken, there need be no fear that the Commonwealth will fail to respond to any demands that may be made in case of Imperial emergency. It is entirely a question as to method. The underlying spirit is the same, whether it manifests itself in a money contribution or in the development of a local navy.”