NAVAL DEFENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 65, 23 April 1914, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

IMPERIAL CO-OPERATION

"ONE GREAT NAVY."

SIB JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED.-

The Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, .who r arrived in Christchurch this morning,; was interviewed by a representative of THE SUN. Referring to the-cablegram* from London, stating the views of Mr A. M. Myers, M.P., on the question o r Pacific naval defence, which appears i« another column, Sir Joseph said that ife was difficult to understand what thercal meaning of the message was. Hewould not like to put himself in tW position of endeavouring to interpretwhat Mr Myers intended to .convey.He could, however, express his own opinion of affairs at the present juncture. He could not believe that anything short of an Imperial upheaval orearthquake could kill the national spirit. of New Zealanders, from the standpoint, of their loyalty and co-operation for the* preservation and 'protection of those. great interests which vitally affect-, the--Britisher in every portion of the Empire. There may, and necessarily must,, be. differences of opinion .as to the best", course to strengthen, not for . to-day or to-morrow, but for the long years tc colne, that national spirit, which spelt loyalty in its best and broadest seus£.

The Line of Cleavage. , ; These differences existed between, those "who urged that a localnavy wasthe policy to pursue, and who held an. strong view that to create a gi eat imperial navy was the best ,and : most effective way to stand shoulder to shoulder, aiHl to set a gi-eat object to. foreign countries in the -shape' of- .jlnity of .'arra n gem en £ and' unity of action. . . V ;

' 'Personally,'' Sir Joseph continual, '' I. feel quite satisfied that permeating the'whole community of New Zealand is the ineradicable determination -to do everything possible to remain in touch with the Motherland' alul to live under the same flag. "I am a strong believer in one great r.avy and one control in time-of-war; and alsd of one control of-its disposal so far as the location of its various sections is concerned in time of peace. - This Opinion General.

" From correspondence 1 have had i from many men beyond our shores well | al.le to judge, the view. I liold oil this . i matter has been considerably strength-'. | ened. It may be difficult to. see its. ,'uli ; j consummation at, an early date; bet ause necessarily there are differences of qpin- ; ion as between Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand., At the frame;, lime there is no question as to the best course to follow, in the. opinion of the Admiralty. - ■ The Admiralty's Idea. "If the public Statements oil ' o Successive First ..-Lords, including the piesent holder of the position, are to be accepted as a guide/ as : I think l liey should be, Hfcen what should. be adyo- i cated is ; one Imperial navy under one:, control.. ; , ; f 'At the- same time all will- reco^i;:.-c, 1 as.,: I recognise, that:.all : self-governi «,*' Dominions should have the" right lb .elect, 'without interference^'^!a,t th i. people,'.through their (Jovernmeht, t-li .nl; t-j be. i'tii'te" best* course to follow, o\ui though fliat course may differ from th-i expressed,^viewsof. the through the First Lord. > . r The Dominions' Eights./ 1 /'The full essence of our freedom an I enr autonomy asi.anilepend'ent States "is ? .'ol; out own people, through ,tQ govern and direct' ■tl^ir'own affairs. , To-.recognise this as is not, in my opinion, to relieve tlie- Gfovfirnment* of -any country of its gi eat*responsibility and its duty in the nVattfer of Empire preservation. Sec : tioiial navies are distinctly a weaker system, than that'publicly stated to be -the best by the responsible meii in control of the Admiralty,... After- all that supporters of the lo.cal navy system may say, there is the incontrovertible fact that the preservation of the British Isles'from occupation by any aggressive is the preservation of the .selfgoverning Dominions. Carried to its conclusion, it means that in the " matter of co-operation and co-ordina-tion for Empire defence purposes, we cannot, in my opinion, go against the expressed opinions of the responsible men ac: the head of the Admiralty as to the best system to be adopted by overseas countries in the matter of naval defence; ' » - . .• .. "Believing as I do in one great Empire,, I hold the strong opinion that it . needs one great navy under one control. f , The Financial Standpoint. "There can be no question as to the lcvalty of New Zealanders. As I said beginning, although there is room for a difference of opinion, I think; that to stand by the British Navy has more direct and indirect advantages from the New Zealand standpoint than any other system; which has be*n suggested. Apart altogether from any other considerations',' ! there is the fact that the finances of this country are not strong enough to provide for an eHicient local ui.yy and its upkeep, and at the same time ,to provide the necessary moneys for-the admittedly important developmental requirements that for years to come will have to be provided foij.tlie peopie oj> our own country."