AN EXCELLENT IDEA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8558, 22 October 1913, Page 6

AN EXCELLENT IDEA

Sir Joseph Ward is perfectly justified in persistently and frequently reminding the Hon. AA’. F. Massey that the country is anxiously awaiting tho promised Ministerial statement concerning naval policy. AA’e can quite understand that the repeated inquiry made by the leader of tho Opposition as to when tho representatives of tho people are to be taken into the confidence of tho Cabinet places the Prime Minister in a somewhat embarrassing position, because the circumstances aro peculiarly awkward. The Hon. James Allen is reported to have returned to New Zealand five months ago, fresh from close intercourse with the Imperial Government and tho Admiralty, with a cut-and-driod policy of some description. Ho doubt its chief characteristic was originality. Some striking departure from the beaten track was, we can well understand, desired by the ambitious Minister to mark tho historic fact of his advent to power. But tho Cabinet would not stand for the Allen policy. That has been abundantly evident ever since tho day of the Minister's return, when several of his colleagues immediately vetoed a public announcement on the subject. Much water has run under the bridges in the meantime. Tho arguments that have taken place around the Cabinet table, the changes and modifications insisted upon by Mr Massey and other Ministers, tho correspondence with tho Home authorities —these can only be conjectured, of course, but we feel certain that not very much remains of tho Allen policy of last Juno. So that every succeeding query that is put to Mr Massey finds him still in tho state of procrastination that is becoming eo identical with “Reform” in general. But the Prime Minister made one very sensible suggestion yesterday, when he said that perhaps the best .thing be could do was to take the leader of the Opposition into his confidence. The idea is an excellent one. Nobody in New Zealand is better qualified than Sir Joseph Ward to give assistance and advice to bis less experienced successor, and we are safe in saying that if Mr Massey consults with the Opposition leader he may yet bo able to produce a naval policy. But it will not bo _ a policy of mosquito warships waiting in our waters with steam up and guns cocked, ready at a moment’s notice to sweep Britain’s foes off the Atlantic Ocean; nor a scheme to buy a sixth share of the Australian fleet; nor a fantastic notion to construct local shipbuilding yards and docks, arsenals and armouries. But where is Mr Allen’s place in all this? Is our great Minister for Defence and Finance, who so recently rubbed shoulders in the Old Country with men of “rank, nobility, character, and financial standing,” to be side-tracked ? Perish tho thought.