THE NEW ZEALAND PROPOSAL. AUCKLAND, August 29

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 26

THE NEW ZEALAND PROPOSAL. AUCKLAND, August 29

The views of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Massey) in regard to the agreement arrived at by the Defence Conference (as announced by Mr Asquith) were statsd to a Herald reporter to-day. " The cablegram dealing with Mr A.squith's s^atement," said Mr Massey, "is so fragmentary that it is somewhat difficult to express an opinion thereon. I must say, however, that so far as ifo is possible to judge of what has been dor:e, I am somewhat disappointed. In the first place, I understood that the whole question of defence of the overseas dominions of the Empire would be dealt with. The cablegram, however, is singularly silent in regard to the defence of the harbours, or even the proposed methods of . the ordinary land defence of New Zealand. There is not a word, fof instance, about national training, -in regard" to which so much interest is taken in this country and in our Parliament. I hope that these matters' have not been overlooked, because there were many people, and I am one, who think thatthey are of even more importance .than the contribution of a battleship to. the British navy. Apparently from wfiat Sir Asquith says the idea of the Dreadnought gift from New Zealand has been departed frond, . and instead w& are -to " provide a cruiser,- which will be stationed in the China. Seas. . I >ardly think this will satisfy the • people ol N,eW >Zea4 . land, or ,that they .will, receive;.' miich* benefit 'therefrom, except-* franr f the general strengthening of the Pacific, .section of the navy, .which is "evidently in*. I, tended. .If, -when.- the . offer was made? f to the Imperial Government, it had", been. I not ' an offer of a battleship, but of an | armoured cruiser, to be stationed in the Far East, would there have been such a chorus of approval ? My .decided opinion is that it would not have been so, and I have no doubt that Parliament will consider the matter very carefully before agreeing to what is now proposed.'' Mr Massey expressed regret that somearrangement had not been made by which New Zealand might be able to work with Australia in the matter of naval defence, and hoped that even yet something might be done iv that respect. August 30. Tlie Hon. Mr Fowlds (Acting Minister of Defence) was Keen to-day regarding the I criticism of the decisions of the" Defence Conference by Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition. The Minister expressed amazement at such a criticism coming from the Leader of the Opposition, who has so frequently paraded his patriotism -and Imperialism. "It is an open secret that in connection witli the whole question of our offer of a Dreadnought and of the Imperial Conference Mr Massey has been out of touch with a good many of hi» . principal fc-Howers 7 bnt- I venture fcb. ' thint," said the "Minister, "that they must have had a cold shiver all over- when they read his latest pronouncement on the this morning. What is the variation from *tKe original offer which' * calls forth this criticism from the Leader of . the Opposition?. Tha * change . from a Dreadnought to an Indomitable. Lord Charles Beresford contends that the Indomitable is of the two the superior fighting machine, and certainly, if the battleship given by New Zealand is to hare any direct mission in connection with the defence of our coasts and the surrounding seas, the Indomitable is for that purpose undoubtedly the superior fighting machine. " Mr Massey is also disappointed that nothing has been arranged about the ordinary land defence of New Zealand. Has he not read that it has been agreed at the conference to unify the system of training, organisation, and transports under an Imperial staff? How much further does he want the arrangement to go? He laments that nothing- is «aid about national training. Does he want to hand over tl*e control of the natidnal training of the youths of New Zealand to an authority outside New Zealand? If he does, I can assure him that the people of New -Zealand have no such intention. * ' " Mr Massey expressed regret that- som«— arrangement had not been made by wihictt New Zealand might be able to work with Australia in the matter of naval defence, and he hoped that even" yet something might be done in that respect. Yon /wilt remember/ said the Minister, " that Mr Massey deplored the folly of New Zealand in not joining the Australian Federation, and this latest opinion shows that he is still prepared to make this Dominion an appanage of Australia. I think, however, that most New Zealanders to-day, recognise the far-seeing statesmanship'

•wjhich left New Zealand to work out its own destiny in its own way "It was very significant," the Minister continued, "that in the columns of the $]ew Zealand Times this mooning Mr Massey's views should come next to the German view, wherein the Berliner Tageblatt predicts that the debates in the overseas Parliaments regarding the proposals of the Defence Conference will be excited and lengthy, and that objections ■will be raised to the new programme. The Leader of the Opposition follows this up by saying that he has no doubt that Parliament will consider the matter very , carefully before agreeing to what is now j proposed. I sincerely trust," continued Mr Fowlds, "that this is not an indication that Mt Massey is beginning to develop German sympathies. I think some of Mr Massey'e lieutenants ought promptly to Bay; whether they agree with him in the hostile attitude he has assumed towards' the decisions of the Imperial Defence Conference." I