THE NAVAL POLICY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8559, 23 October 1913, Page 6

THE NAVAL POLICY

The very latest item of trustworthy political intelligence is that the long-sought-for naval policy has been prepared at last. Heaven alone knows who drafted it, seeing that scarcely more than twenty-four hours ago the Hon, AV. F. Massey, who had appropriated the contract, confessed that though ho intended to “do it” himself, he had no time to spare for tho purpose. However, no matter how it was produced, the policy is ready at last, and is to he submitted to a caucus of the party this morning. But why to a caucus? AA T e have been labouring under the impression that the Tories were emphatically opposed to the system of government by caucus, which they profess to regard as a very vicious and objectionable system. AVhy are they adopting it now in relation to this precious naval policy ? It is cynically suggested by their opponents that they have so little confidence in their own policy, and are so absolutely deficient in courage, that they are afraid to submit it to the House until they have committed their followers to unquestioning support. Of course, such a method is open to some objection, because there is the danger that simple and guileless members who are unable to grasp a question of such great magnitude in a moment may find themselves tied down to vote for a scheme that may be condemned by tho whole country. But what of that? The tail of “Reform,” for the most part, performs the function of wagging most obediently and without the exercise of any independent judgment. It is not very clear, we are bound to confess, what method of procedure is to be followed when tho naval policy is submitted to the caucus. AV© have no information whether a vote of the party is to bo taken on the proposals, or whether, if the vote should happen to be adverse, the scheme is to be shelved. The latter, however, is a contingency too fearful to contemplate. Sufficient for the present that the Hon. AA r . F. Massey and the Hon. Colonel Allen have assured us that we are giving a lead to the. Empire. That lead, after all, is by gracious permission of the caucus.