Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1923 DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND: THE ADMIRALTY SUGGESTIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16175, 11 July 1923, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1923 DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND: THE ADMIRALTY SUGGESTIONS.

The Imperial Government has shown that it is fully alive to the necessity of providing for the protection of New Zealand. It has sent forward definite suggestions which the Prime Minister could submit to the Legislature and for which the Admiralty evidently desired to get legislative sanotipis. .•!.. ilassey rather cut the ground from under his feet by the resolution he was speaking to, when he read out the Admiralty suggestions. The resolution left all matters which affected New Zealand and which were to be dealt with at London, open- for- subsequent ratification "a£ : Wellington. Possibly he intends later in the session to tako a direct vote from the House approving the Admiralty suggestions. So grave a matter does not admit of unnecessary delay. Approval would certainly bo given by both Houses if it were asked for. Such approval could be made sufficiently wide to cover modifications and even substantial

alterations which might be desirable after the whole question of Empire defence had been thrashed out at the Conference. It is not desirable that if should go, out to the outer world that New Zealand had the slightest hesitation in at onco accepting any legitimate burden suggested to it, as an integral part of the Empire, lor the Empire's defence. The same spirit which sent contingents to South Africa, which influenced the presentation of the cruiser New Zealand to the Imperial Navy, and which carried us through the great war, is still inherent in our people and should find immediate expression in the prompt acceptance of the Admiralty suggestions. These suggestions are:—-(1) .During the period of financial stringency maintenance by New Zealand of a healthy nucleus of a seagoing squadron, which, when occasion requires, can bo expanded. The expansion to consist wf light cruisers and ocean-going submarines. (2) The provision' of oil reserves in New Zealand. (3) Assistance in equipping Empire naval bases by financial contribution or supply of material manufactured in New Zealand. (4) Providing bases, docks, depots, and re-

serves of stores, and fuel in New Zealand, for vessels maintained by New Zealand. (5) Providing for local protection of trade, and storage of guns for merchant ships and their escorts, and providing trained personnel for them. (6) Providing mobile defence organisations for ports, including mine-sweepers. New Zealand is in no way bound as to tho distribution of the cost of what is recommended. ( The Government is entitled to credit for the action it has already taken that is in line with the Admiralty's suggestions. One hundred thousand pounds has been reserved foi a contribution to the establishment of a naval base at Singapore or for such other approved expenditure upon Dominion .defences as may hereafter bo determined upon. An oil base is also being arranged for at Auckland. It does seem to border upon foolishness for our public men in Now Zealand to talk as they do, as if we were the Empire and liad the right to voice its requirements.

Such as: "Our duty is to keep the Empire together, and in a proper state of defonce. We do not want to go to war, but I think our navy must be able to hold its own with any navy in the World." The sentiments are quite right. Tho source from which they emanate seems to be just a little out of proportion, Mr. Masscy and Mr. Wilford insist on New Zealand being consulted on all matters of foreign policy. Mr. Mas3ey goes further, as he interjected to Mr. Wilford's claim that New Zealand should he consulted : "Have a voice in." Small people do like to be heard. It would seem as if 'small people* shared that self-pleasurable delectation. What possible voice could any Dominion have in the direction of the foreign policy of Great Britain; as regards the present breakaway in tho Ruhr. The Foreign Minister's hands in London would indeed be nerveless if he had to trouble his head as to tho views of all tho scmi'independent portions of the Empire before ho could advise his Prime Minister is to the lino to 'take from day to day with France. What possible voice couid sew Zealand have, or even India, of, closer still, Canada, in such questions. And this trouble with France is illustrative, for according to Mr. Massoy—wo do not think him to be at all right—sin regard to what is going on now there may bo war before very long." Would New Zealand's voice through tho

High Commissioner or through any other New Zealand ex-statesmen," hold'ing a Sinecure office as resident Minister at have the least influence upon the conduct of English diplomacy with foreign Powers? If information only is jivanted, other than what is supplied by the Imperial authorities, wo should cer-

tainly pay rather much for that information in the maintenance of a resident Minister; At its best the information Tjfould always be two days or more behind the fair. It is no use for Canada, !nd much less for New Zealand, to claim rivilcges on the ground that the Dolinions have come of age. They are jpt children. Children, too, that" have been rather spoilt. New Zealand would do the best service to the Empire if satiefipd during pupilage-—which promises tp bo rather protracted—to follow the advice given from London, and to be thankful that a great Power, and the many millions of persons that Power represents, are content and anxious to wrotect and caro for a people located in a country at the ends of tho earth. Uhe 'whole population of which could be sut down nearly flvo times over in greater London.

p MODERN SPEECH. { Mr. John D. Rockefeller on his 84th birthday, declined to oblige the reporter \fith a statement. "There are too many people who talk in the world; I had better bo silent." Is it not true? The world is like an inexhaustible poultry sliow. ' And yet never did mere talk, at lpast in public life, count for so little.

J perhaps tho reporter is responsible. He j )s too merciful. He dresses up the Speeches and makes, them conform to ordinary rules. Tho delighted orator tjiinks the speech as it appears is really what ho said. But this applies merely to tho dress of speech as it is poured out si> profusely to-day. The substance is so wanting. Some one may remember a. famous political cartoon of Sir John ienniels, in which tho ghost of Lord P.ilmarston is depicted in an attitude of remonstrance behind tho Prime Minister 61 tho day who had allowed the Governor of a Crown colony to bo thrown to j ■ the wolves. "It would not have been so, in my day." Tho ghost of Isaac Pitman might well bo so delineated as shadowing tho worst political orators of to-day, remonatratively pleading, "Am I responsible?" Tho education which has been richly conferred upon the young in

public life. In the colleges there must be debating clubs in which cogent speech may bo acquired. As it is, no one is deriving any benefit from the con tcntious debates in the House of Representatives. The Welfare League is dot too severe when it lashes out in its protest against the waste of time : "Of all the speeches delivered in this wrangle ('debate' is scarcely the word to apply) there is not one we can think of, of such quality as needs to be remembered again. The great body of talk expired as it was brought forth'. . . , Wo look in vain for the big men who will deal with large issues in a broad and comprehensive manner, independent of the personal and political sectarian relations. The 'you are another' style of bickering in Parliament is far too much in evidence at present. ... Of course, it it is said that the people get just the class of representative they are worthy of. To raise the standard of Parliament is a matter the electors themselves must take in hand. They must distinguish between wisdom and ponderous dullness; and between real wit and mere bujfoonery." After all, speech, to be at all worth while must bo agreeable. Denunciation is called for at times' from authority. . But the great bulk of the world's talk to-day is volunteered. It is too often self-centred, and then it is hateful. Speech which i s not pleasant to the ear of the hearers is better withheld. Some few delight to see how wit so called can give pain. They love to cauterise but object to be cauterised. Speech which is not agreeable, unless it be spoken in. performance of a duty, is better smothered. "Discretion cf speech is more than eloquence; and to apeak agreeably to him with whom we deal, i s more than to speak in good words, or in good order.