CANADIAN NAVY BILL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7027, 15 January 1910, Page 6

CANADIAN NAVY BILL

FIEST BEADING PARTICIPATION IN WARS OF THE EMPIRE. CONCESSION TO PUBLIC OPINION By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. LONDON, January 13. In the discussion on tho Canadian Naval Service Bill, in tho Dominion House of Commons, Mr Monk, member for Quebec, who is a Conservative, dissented from Mr Borden's argument that the creation of a Navy would mean that Canada would participate in the wars of the Elmpire without representation in the British Parliament. The Bill was read a first time. The " Morning Post's " Ottawa correspondent says that Sir Wilfrid Laurier made important concessions to the weight of public opinion in adopting the larger of the two plans furnished by the Admiralty, and in admitting that Canada would be automatically involved in any war ?.ffectdng the Empire. The provision allowing the Government to place the Navy at the disposal of the Admiralty was seriously marred by its permissive character, thus _ contemplating the possibility of Canada remaining aloof. The "Post" commends Mr Borden for repudiating Sir Wilfrid Laurier's recent utterances, which suggested that a Canadian Navy upon the outbreak of war would slink into harbour ■while Parliament was being summoned.