ELEMENTS IN DEFENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16498, 2 August 1924, Page 5

ELEMENTS IN DEFENCE.

SEAPLANES AND OIL WELLS. (Parliamentary Jtcporter.) WELLINGTON', thus day. Some constructive suggestions' tor iiefence were outlined by r\lr. W'illiains (Bay of Plenty) in liis Budget .speech y.estcr.dayi IJenghpcd that tlie first .j(ij*e of defence for N.evy , Zjou.Buul pans the British navy, jiiul.ih.at*a lib,end cputrihiution to it was justified. Ope particular line of defence which was not .receiving tlie attention it warranted ,\yus what- could be gained from seaplanes. New .Zealand, because of it,s long coastline and many in lets, was particularly suited for seaplane operations, and he believed it should constitute our main line of defence. fjs/i----pluties could go put to great distances; and if necessary attack an invading forgo and get back safely Into one of the many inlets. Another thing of .great importance in which the Government could assist in the defeno? of the Empire was to further prosecute tlie research in different, districts regarding oil-bearing possibilities. ’Marty sucli reports had been obtained, but. Avith all respect to those who made them there were others with greater experience of oil conditions who could \ritl.i some certainty whether oil* could be found. The Goyernfiient would be justified in spending considerable slims in get advice. |f we did happen’to find pit it) New Zealand,'it. would probably lp« tlie best contfibutioti we could innlie to, Ettifiire defence. Tlie .froyerntnent in this connection should be carefitl to pro*, tect the country against having to pay too heavy a royalty -to landowpers having oil-bearing ppopetty.