MR MASSEY TO REPLY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 28, 10 March 1914, Page 8

MR MASSEY TO REPLY

POSITION OF NAVAL POLICY.

From Our Special Correspondent,

WELLINGTON, March 9.

The Prime Minister leaves'to-night' for Marlborough, whence he will proceed to Nelson and overland via the Builer Gorge to the West Coast, and via Arthur's Pass (Otira) to Canterbury,

I understand that he will, to-morrow night at Blenheim, deliver an important political speech in reply to criticisms. Its main heads will be finance, land, naval affairs,' and industrial. Though the Opposition lieutenants (not the leader) have attempted some unofficial programme-making, it is not likely that Mr Massey will be drawn very much in that direction. But he will have a strong array of facts and figures to refute their criticism, and set forth the positive results of the Government's administration.

The naval policy chiefly turns on the attitude of the Admiralty. During the session it was made clear that the Admiralty was averse to replacing the Pyramus and the Psyche with two Bristol cruisers, even though the New Zealand Government offered to increase the subsidy from £IOO,OOO to £150,000. As a consequence, the Government proposes to acquire a Bristol cruiser at a cost of about £400,000, unless the Admiralty changes its attitude and sends better ships to these waters. That condition, which would postpone the- beginning of a New Zealand-owned navy, has not yet been fulfilled. I have the best authority, for stating that since-the session closed no communication oil the subject has been received from .the' Admiralty.