NAVAL DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 17608, 24 March 1914, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE

MB MASSEY’S GREYMOOTH SPEECH CRITICISED BY' THE SYDNBT TELEGRAPH. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. SYDNEY', March 23. Commenting on Mr Massey’s Greymouth speech, the Telegraph says—“lt is undoubtedly the fact that British interests in the Pacific axe safeguarded, hy the Anglo-.Tapanese Alliance, and no good purpose can be served by refusing to admit it. It is not correct to say that Australia and New Zealand are protected bv Japanese ships and men. Mr Churchill did not say it. There is no fear of an expedition from Europe, and fear of attack by the United States is unthinkable, so also is an invasion by any of the South American Republics. There remains only Japan, since China may be ruled out for some time to come. We come, therefore, to the conclusion that obviously the Anglo-Japanese Alliance secures our safety.” NEW ZEALAND'S REQUIREMENTS. IT-TO-DATU SHIPS ESSENTIAL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 23. Speaking on the National Question at ft biinquel tendered him at Pangaroa on Saturday night, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that we had less fighting power in the dominion than we, had in 1887. Then vre paid £40.000 a year, and we had fighting ships of a tonnage of 41,000 tons. Now. for an expenditure of £250,000 a year, we hail (1.300 tons of out-of-date defence —three ships of which were of no earthly use at all. If the British Governmen could not carry oot the agreement, New Zealand must assert her nationality. and have at least an up-to-date ship. There did not seem to be good reason why England had not supplied this country with an. adequate protecting fleet. It was now. he said, generally admitted that no crisis occurred in 1909 to make our contribution of a battleship specially necessary. Ac the time some mention had been made of despatches from the British Government, but search had disclosed the fact that I there were no such despatches in existI enco. ”It should be our policy conI tinued the Minister, “to supply not only funds, but men and ships for Imperial defence.”