IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15578, 7 October 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

THE NAVAL PROBLEM.

REPLY TO SIR J. G. WARD,

Proas Association—By Telegraph—Copyrighl

MELBOURNE, October 5.

Discussing Sir J. G. Ward's statement in Parliament on Imperial defence, Senator Pearcc said that Sir .1. G. Ward had not given his reasons why he was unablo to conceive the idea of an Australian squadron defending British interests in the Pacific. Sir Joseph, at the Imperial Conference, admitted that the idea of a Pacific licet, to which the dominion should contribute a unit, was advanced \>v the Admiralty, and that indicated that sectional navies were not regarded with disfavour by the Admiralty. i>y tho agreement Sir .1. G. Ward proposed, on behalf of New Zealand, that he >vas prepared to allow the control of portion of the China Pacific unit to pass from the hands of New Zealand. Senator Pcarco considered that, according to the view Sir Joseph Ward now took, the proposal he made at the conference had all the disadvantages of a sectional navy and none of the advantages. It did not appeal to local patriotism, and it must hamper the Admiralty's administration. The Senator added that Sir J. G. Ward's two proposals and his comments were inconsistent. Tho policy of Australia did not hamper the Admiralty, and left her free to develop the naval spirit of the Commonwealth.