THE NAVAL POLICY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 143, 23 July 1914, Page 3

THE NAVAL POLICY.

A STATESMANLIKE COURSE.

I'rest Association. WELLINGTON, July 22. The Delegates to the : Dominion Conference of .the New Zealand Farmers' Union were entertained at luncheon today in the Chamber of Commerce by the Dominion Executive.

The Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, in reply to the toast of "The Army and Navy'' (proposed by Major D. H. Lusk), said that behind the Territorial movement was more than the question of local defence. There was the conception of a united Empire and a desire to be in readiness to send men to help the Empire wherever the Empire needed assistance. He did not look upon the Army as merely: a defensive machine, for behind it all was the inculcating of discipline and the characteristics which went to make good citizens. Under the scheme all ranks stood shoulder to shoulder on absolute equality, and it was only quality that got a man to the top. They had. learned that there were other things besides the development of the country. There was the development of the individual. On the naval question Allen said he did not agree' with the contention that the farmers should not interest themselves in the question of defence, for of the £23,000,000 or £24,000,000 worth of produce sent away from these shores, 70 or 80 per cent, came from the farmers themselves, and surely they were concerned in the protection of their own interests. Since the Home Government had found it necessary to break the naval agreement of 1909, a change in the naval policy had been found to be necessary, and the question had arisen as. to what was to take the place of the naval subsidy. The policy -of training the Dominion's own men;.on Imperial ships and under Imperial officers so that they would automatically pass to the great Imperial fleet was, he contended, the most statesmanlike course that could have been adopted. (Applause.)