THE BRITISH NAVY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2676, 12 January 1921, Page 6

THE BRITISH NAVY.

FUTURE CON STRUCTION. QUESTION OF AUSTRALASIAN INTEREST. CONFERENCE IN LONDON. Electric Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) London, January 10. Tlie Naval authorities and the Admiralty explain that the reason Australasia is not represented on the committee which is examining future naval eoiiistinotion is that Australasia is not contributing to> the cost of the British fleet; but the findings and full evidence will be available to the Dominion Governments' as soon as possible. Ajskud whether the Adjmif'alty’s view in regard to tlie contribution took into account the cost of the Australian and New Zealand navies, the authorities replied that a scheme would be brought before the Imperial Conference in June, to provide that the Dominions should contribute a •larger share of the cost of Empire defence ; but this would not entail any alteration in-the existing policies of local navies. The Admiralty was not at present disposed to view battleships as finished with, and the conference may decide on tlie transference of British squadrons to the Pacific. If so, they would probably be based on the most suitable strategi eai harbours.