THE NAVY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15748, 26 April 1913, Page 8

THE NAVY LEAGUE.

It is nine "years sinco the Otogo Branch of the Navy League was lormed, Mid it is pleasing to find such evidence ( of a vigorous existenoe on its part as was afforded at the annual meeting held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, The League fulfils a well-defined and useful function in the community, and it is probable that at no recent period in the history of the navy has there been greater occasion for the exertion of its influence than at present. As Mr Johnstone ■well pointed out, the functions of the League are at once patriotic and educational. Tho people of New Zealand, like those of other dominions, find themselves mora deeply and more closely interested in the navy every year. Unless the signs are very misleading, public opinion is thoroughly impressed with tile importance of tho Empire's first line of defence, and •convinced that New Zealand must play an adequate part in contributing to its strength. Where it can do with guidance is upon the question 'of the precise nature of tho co-operation which it behoves this country to lend tho Motherland in retaining the mastery of tho sea. Such addresses as thoso delivered at' tiio Town Hall yesterday deserve a largo audience by reason of the light cast by them upon a subject

respecting- which an intelligent opinion must be formed by the people of rfew Zealand . All' the dominions are faced with the problem of choosing a naval policy. Australia has boldly taken the laad in one direction, Canada has been, for .some time ''at the parting of the ways, and there are • possibilities that New Zealand may arrive at a similar point. It is difficult to discuss tho subject of the navy from the standpoint of one of the dominions out encountering the question of the form which a contribution from that dominion to the navy should take. This aspect of the subject is in the air more or less, aad can hardly be avoided. While one or two of the speakers yesterday touohed upon what is undoubtedly a debatable question, the conclusion which they all drew as to the general relation of New Zealand to the navy was one that every person in this country should be able without misgiving to snpportr—namely, that in one way or in another Now Zealand .most make a sacrifice to help the navy to secure her own safety with that of tha rest of the Empire. The Minister of Defence inclines to the belief, as his utterances have clearly indicated, that the best policy for this country would be eventually to follow the example of Australia, and create a local navy. But Mr James Allen takes a broad enough view of the situation, as reference to has speech before the Liberal Colonial Club last month, shows. He is not prepared to allow that Australia is building her own navy t for selfish purposes—she has simply, in his opinion, been using the sentiment of sacrifice for the purpose of -ultimately building up an Imperial navy. ■ At least no reason- ' able person will doubt that the motive? which have inspired the naval poKcy of the Commonwealth are better than any of a mere " parish pump" variety or that they aim at the achievement of dual results, Imperial as well as colonial, in their significance. Tha utterance of the Minister of Defence that is of greatest interest is his declaration that while ho believed the Australian policy to be one that all the dominions would ultimately have to adopt, "he did not care whether the dominions began by building ships, or buying ships, or contributing in any other form to the naval defence of the Empire so long as they all acted in unison with some intelligent plan which would permit of effective co-operation in Imperial interests and be consistent with the laTger policy of bringing the whole of these various naval units together again." When all is said, the recognition of the

necessity for co-operation in Imperial interests is the essential factor in naval policy. There seems nothing in his statements to be construed into a belief on. the part of the Minister of Defence that' New Zealand can hope at present to shoulder the burden of creating a local fleet. The experience of Australia, the population and resources of which so ttmoh exceed those of New Zealand, should prove a useful guide to this country as time goes on, if our politicians should seriously contemplate emulating the example of the Commonwealth. The plea which was advanced yesterday by Mr John Allen for the adoption by New Zealand of a local navy policy was a decidedly interesting exposition of one side of this important question. In the meantime, however, what is of real consequence is that tho people of New Zealand and of > the other dominions should appreciate to the full the crux of the situation •which seems to be well expressed by a writer in the British Review: "Actually it is of comparatively small consequence, in time of peace, whether tho navy is 'all one' or composed of separate parts, provided that in tin® cd tot the various British fleets shall act together under the direction of one supreme Admiralty."