GUARDING THE EMPIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12772, 25 May 1912, Page 2

GUARDING THE EMPIRE.

MOTHERLAND AND. DOMINIONS

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) LONDON, May 24. The Pall Mall Gazette? agrees with the wisdom of various parts of the Empire vicing With each other m naval matters. Each m its own. way considers that the battleships Australia and 'New Zealand, with another from the Roya,! Navy, should be sent over to form the nucleus of a future ocean fleet, but New' Zealand, m assenting to- /Mr Cllurcllill's request, is more clear-sighted than j those who think that the. withdrawal of the New -Zealand leaves- the burden of Australia's- 1 defence >-on the Commonwealth alone. / l -That ' 'defence; -however, is ' as much the whole . Empire's concern and that' of .the., Empire's' whole, navy as the defence of • London.- r -„■ '■* *

The Westminster Gazette, m a special article, emphasises the •fact that Australia has- a 1 valuable Imperial work m the Pacific, arid^'-hef; invitation to the Admiralty's, experts and '• Ijer -entire ; adoption of Admiral Henderson's-, re' port,: involving a heavy financial outlay extending ►over- -20' years' shipbuilding, (adds to the past year's' foundation work weir done; . .•: .. ,;' : ; Sir Wm. Hall-Jones ijfew Zealand High Commissioner) interviewed,.. . said, that m New Zealand there ' was' the strongest enthusiasm fotstlie battleship scheme, and : there was no shadow of ■ chagrin regarding the, .riye* of the ship m Home waters. . V .' SYDNEY, May, -24. A feature of the Empire Day demonstration was the -speeches of Admiral Sir G. F. King-Hall and Sir Joseph Ward. '-v - - ''• '■• .-■•'•

Admiral Sir G. F. King-Hall said that control of the sea highways was absolutely necessary if;-\\*»e.are. to retain independence. This . applied to Australia as well as"' to the- rest df the Em^ pire. He was more, convinced,. than ever ; that no other policy Was -possible than the present Austra.fiahi.navy^ policy m view pf .the growing national feeling m Australia. '. .' , , •<,-.■.'•' '-„;.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the position of the British, Empire was remarkable ■ m as. far as no. past empira.^exemplified the ■-.. relationship; x of • the : ; mother -nation -and the; galaxy^ bf^ yoimg''.:nasions.. like. it. The solidarity' and impregnay bility Of . the , Empire , y?a& the igoal/ 'towards;.•■which- .all: were working.^"! The British . Navy.jnust be^ m. ah, unq,uestiQnable state .of 'efficiency; .arid powei* if .tlie peace of the woi'ld wasVvto be ensued. He "believed that, 'people- overseas should' look forward to a great Imperial Pa,rliament where the Dominions would be represented and ( the prime duty of which would be the ' control of Imperial defence and the creatiortr.' and maintenance, of a great Imperial .-.Navy to guardevery portion of the Empire. ;.; AUCKLAND, this day. With reference to the -recent decision of the Cabinet to allow the gift of the battleship New Zealand to be stationed' where tne Home .Government desires, instead of haying, : he» ;-placed on the China station, as drigiriUlly* intended, the leader of tlie Opposition * was *asked for an expression of: opinion ; b^; a reporter. , "We regard the qiiegiion," said Mr Massey. "as an Imperial matter .and quite above party polities'.;- I am satisfied to leave it to the Imperial Govei'n-m-ent to «ay whei'e the battleship will be of th^ most use to the -Empire." More than that, Mr Massey J remarked, he could hot say.

(Special to Herald.) . v • DUNEDIN, this day. At a meeting , of the Dunedin branch of the' Overseas jClub, it was uinanimous- .' ly resolved to endorse and approve of the action of the New Zealand Government m acceding to the request of the British. 'Admiralty that, the battleship New Zealand be appointed to the naval station where she may be most useful to the Empire. '■ - \. .