THE TOY NAVY FOLLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8698, 3 April 1914, Page 4

THE TOY NAVY FOLLY

It is well known that there is nothing approaching unanimity in the mind of the New Zealand Tory party on the question of naval policy, notwithstanding that the whole of his supporters in Parliament followed Mr Massey into the division lobby when the deplorable step towards cutting the painter was taken last session. The Prime Minister has recently been repeating his professedly lofty sentiments about “keeping the question of defence above party,” hut it is no secret that if he had been faithful 'to that principal the -proposal of Colonel Allen to break away from the Mother Country and rush into the wildly speculative arena of local fleets would assuredly have been rejected by the House of Representatives. We are convinced that th© prime consideration prompting th© “Reform” Government in this matter was to make ft departure from th© policy laid down by the Liberals; and w© feel just as certain that it was only tho crack of th© party whip that secured tho passage of the Government’s measure. ]Sot only is there disagreement—if unexpressed - among the self-styled “Reformers” on this very important subject, but it appears that our High Commissioner in London is unable to giv© the Allen toy navy scheme th© weight of his approval. An important meeting was held at the Guildhall in London on February Bth in ©upport of the British Government in whatever measures it might deem necessary to ensure the supremacy _of tho King’s Kavy, Among th© distin-* guished speakers was our High. Commissioner, and it is reported In. tho English press that

The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, expressed the concern, of the. Over-

seas Dominions iu the maintenance of safe transit for their products. They were prepared, he said, to do their share. There was an element of weakness in the provision of iicet units outside this country; and they must, for a- long- time, rely ou the strength of the British Navy. It is quite impossible to reconcile this with any sort of sympathy with the Allen policy. Mr Mackenzie truly says that we must rely on tho strength of the British navy in consequence of the weakness of outside units; but the Hon. Colonel (and prospective Admiral) •Tames Allen says that it is the British navy that is weak, and so he will build a cruiser—one solitary second or third rate cruiser—which shall protect our trade routes and commerce, go to the assistance of Australia in time of need, and bo ready at any moment to fight in tho Atlantic if the despised British navy should bo attacked. It was certainly hold of Mr Mackenzie to practically condemn his Government’s naval policy at tho Guildhall meeting; but he would have been bolder still if he had attempted ( to support or justify such a wild-cat, comic opera scheme.