CANADA AND THE NAVY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13092, 4 June 1913, Page 7

CANADA AND THE NAVY.

MB ALLEN'S VIEW.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night. Speaking to an interviewer on the subject of the Canadian Navy, the Hon. James Allen agreed that a difficult situation faced the Government.

"If Mr Borden can accomplish his object of getting a redistribution of seats that will certainly give him a majority m the Western States," he said. "That is a good policy for him, and one that I can well understand. Sir Wilfrid Laurier .and party are naturally smarting under what they consider to be the disaffection of their own followers, and ever since their policy has been to bring about a dissolution and go back to the country. They are, m short, willing to sacrifice almost everything to gain their purposes, even to the point of Empire disintegration." Speaking of Mr Churchill's touring fleet proposals, the Minister remarked that he really did not see what material service such a policy would afford tc this part of the world. "'Of course, from Canada's point of view," he added, "it would be a capital idea for them to support a squadron either for the Mediterranean or the North Sea. Such a question wouJd be right enough for Atlantic purposes and as a defence for the Eastern shores of Canada, but as far as the Pacific is concerned, I do not think it would be of any material value. Such a fleet "would undoubtedly be of value, but not the kind of value we want."