CANADIAN NAVY BILL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7026, 14 January 1910, Page 5

CANADIAN NAVY BILL

. FLEET OF ELEYEK SHIPS AT KING'S DISPOSAL IN AN - EMERGENCY. NOTABLE OPPOSITION SPEECH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 13, 10.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, January 13. The Hon. L. P. Brodeur, Minister for Marine, is seriously ill, and in his absence the Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, introduced the Naval Service Bill in the Dominion House of Commons yesterday. The measure is framed on the lines of the Canadian Militia Act, and includes provision for a permanent force, and reserve and volunteer forces. No naval conscription is provided for. • , The forces will bo administered by the Marine Department, but -will bo under tho immediate . control of a Naval Controller, advised by a Naval Board. Pensions ■ are, provided for, and a Naval College is to bo established, similar to the Royal Military College now conducted at Kingston, Ontario. THE FLEET. The fleet will be composed of Four" ships of the Bristol class. * One ship of the Boadicea type. Six improved River type destroyers. . Tho total cost will, bo £2,308,000, or 22 per cent, extra if the ships aro constructed in Canada. The first year's appropriation will be 3,000,000 dollars. Sir Wilfrid Laurier announced that the Government intended to begin building ships in Canada as soon as possible. In a case of emergency, the Government may, by O'rdcr-in-Council, place the fleet at tho King's disposal for a general Royal. Navy. If such action be taken when Parliament is not sitting it must be summoned to meet within fifteen days. " EMERGENCY " DEFINED. Mr T. S. Sproule raised the question whether '"emergency" meant war in Canada or abroad. • > The Premier replied: "War anywhere. If Britain is at war with any nation in the world, Canada will bo liable to invasion, and Canada is at war." Mr R. L. Borden, leader of tho Opposition, in a remarkable speech, twitted Sir Wilfrid Laurier with still holding views in favour of Canadian independence, as was shown by his recent declaration that the proposed Navy should not go to war unless the 'Canadian Parliament chose to send it. This declaration meant the complete severance of every tie now binding 'Canada .to. the, Empire; but before tKe flag was lowered on Canadian soil some millions of Canadians would know the reason why. ~ < STRIKING CONTRASTS. Mr Borden contrasted Canada's action with that of Australia and New Zealand, which had responded fully to the Admiralty's suggestion for the formation of fleet. units, while Canada had hedged. Australasia's response, in proportion to its population, was seven times that of Canada. Mr Borden declared that Sir Wilfrid Laurier's proposals were too much for an experiment and too little to give an immediately effective Navy. The speediest organisation would not make the Navy effectivo within; fifteen years; and a. crisis would come within 'five. The possibility of war with Germany was a very real one. Germany had boldly challenged Britain's supremacy on the ocean, and Britain had no right to resent that challenge. THE "GERMAN MENACE;" AGAIN Tho leader of the Opposition then quoted from, .speeches made ,by Mr McKenna • (First Lord of the Admiralty), Mr Asquith (British Prime and Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for War) on March 16th last, and continued: "If the Germans prove themselves the greater race they will be entitled to supremacy on sea and land. The German attainment of naval supremacy without firing a shot would bring the British Empire to an end, and if Canada be true to herself she will not fail in the day of the Empire's peril, but will stand in. the forefront with her sister, nations. We have-the.resources, and, I trust, the patriotism, to provide a.fleet unit, or at least a. Dreadnought, without a moment's unnecessary delay; This is our duty; to our country and' to the Empire.!' - : ■■-;■'.: : Sir Wilfrid Laurier's speech in bringing down the Bill was necessarily brief, owing to the fact that Mr Brodeur had been unexpectedly stricken down by illness just before the House sat. Mr Brodeur is.suffering from an intestinal ulcer, accompanied by hemorrhage, and grave anxiety is occasioned by ids '.