EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 14372, 19 March 1910, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

DANGER IN LABORATORIES.

RATHER THAN IN DOCKYARDS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

LONDON, March 18 Received March IS, 10.20 p.m.

At the Anglo-Saxons Club dinner, Sir Gilbert Parker presided. *

Sir George Reid, in responding to the toast of thS Club’s guest, said that whatever the terms controlling the relation of the Australian Navy or the navies of other dominions to the British Navy, (lie ships must he ready to find themselves as near the Empire’s future Trafalgar as possible. He knew that that was where the Australian ships would be. He had no fear for Britain while the people showed their ancestors’ attributes. He added that it was unwise to depend on a branch of the AngloSaxon race not in the Empire or to have an ally or friend with whom we had an understating. Understandings were very good things and should be cultivated, but we wanted something behind them. He knew what an understanding could be worth, considering that even a treaty is worth little or nothing in an emergency. Struggles between natjons in one form or another were Inevitable. There was greater danger to us perhaps in the laboratories of foreign countries than in their dockyards.

THE COLOHIAL SHIPS.

LONDON, March 18. The House of Commons confirmed the vote for the personnel of the Navy. Air McKenna (First Lord) said that Now Zealand’s cruiser would be an essential part of the Motherland’s Navy and would be manned by the Motherland, cx'oept as far as New Zealand was able to supply men. Australia would man the Australian ship, we supplying those men that Australia was unable to furnish, but their pay would come from Australia.

Sir G. H. Reid and, Mr Hall-Jones have- had an interview with the Admiralty, at which they formally agreed to contracts for the construction of warships on behalf of the Governments of Australia and New' Zealand. The vessels will include a number Of improvements upon the Indomitables, the nature of which is confidential at present. They will be of 28 knot speed, 18,000 tons displacement, and 5.70 feet in length. Trials will be completed by July, 1912. „ The smaller cruisers which wall accompany them to Australia will- not be ready before the end of 1912.

A DEBATE IN THE COMMONS,

LONDON, March 17

The vote-of £7,389,400 wages for the Navy has been agreed to. Mr Lee, answering Mr Murray McDonald, said that the two-power standard would be impossible if friendly nations were excluded from the computations, because others would expect to be excluded. Mr Duke discussed the treatment meted out to Mr Mulliner, shipbuilder, who, it was alleged, had been deprived of building contracts. Sir Charles declined to inform Mr McKenna accusations against the Admiralty were true. ■

Mr McKenna, after a sharp passage with Mr Duke, declared that the accusations against the Admiralty were baseless.

Replying to some Liberals regarding Britain’s adhering to the right of capture of an enemy’s goods at sea, Mr McKenna stated : "If we deprive ourselves of the power of offence we shall still be compelled to maintain a supreme navy to protect our land against invasion, but if we are assured that, jn the event of our abandoning the right, others will reduce their navies upon the understanding that ours should remain supreme, the Government will be willing to consider proposals.”

THE UNIT OP THE FUTURE,

LONDON, March 17

Rear-Admiral Bacon, speaking at the Institution of Naval Architects, said that the problem of how to construct torpedo-proof battleships bad .so far proved Insoluble. The battle unit of the future would probably consist of a single battleship with a complement of torpedo boats of high sea-going speed as offensive and defensive satellites. Fighting would be in the shape of an aggregation of duels between these battle units.

NEW ZEALAND’S DSE&DHOUOHT.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, March 18

The Prime Minister to-day stated that the Fairfield Co., of London and Clyde, the lowest tenderer, has secured the contract for building the New Zealand Dreadnought. The contract price is £852,990,' that Is with Yarrow boilers. The Admiralty requests that the substitution of Babcock boilers at a cost of £21,000 additional be left to their own discretion. That has been authorised. The contract time is twenty-four months. In addition to the amounts mentioned above there Is a further sum of £22,000 for certain auxiliary machinery that the Admiralty has provided for so that the total amount of the tender, with Yarrow boilers, is £874,990. If Babcock boilers are finally required by the Admiralty an additional £21,000 will require to be added. The tenders are for the hull and machinery. Requisite guns will have to be provided by one of the large gun-manufacturing firms. Tenders for the guns are to be separate.

In reply to ah enquiry from Sir Joseph Ward the High Commissioner advises that including the hull, machinery, guns, and ammunition for twelve months, the total cost of the New Zealand Dreadnought will not exceed £l,800,000. “ So that, from our point of view,” stated the Prime Minister today, “ the arrangement made is exceedingly satisfactory, as it is £200,000 under the estimated cost for which the authority of Parliament was given.”

Last session the Government obtained authority to raise a loan of up to two millions at a rate of interest not exceeding 3% per cent. It is not to be treated as part of the permanent public debt, and provision was made for paying it off within eighteen years. For that purpose a sinking fund of 4 per cent was provided for. In lx is Budget statement Sir Joseph Ward said that the proposals involved a total yeai’iy expenditure of £250,000, made up thus : Dreadnought (interest and sinking fund for each of eighteen years) £150,000, contribution to Admiralty to cover the difference between imperial and local rates of pay, etc., £IOO,OOO, total £250,000. Deducting £IOO,OOO now being paid by New Zealand as xxaval contribution, the net result would be a yearly increase of £150,000 on the amount we at present pay.