DOMINION DEFENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2030, 17 August 1920, Page 7

DOMINION DEFENCE.

NAVAL SIDE OVERLOOKED. 'Die following letter Las been sent by Mr C. M. Treleaven, secretary to the Canterbury branch of the Navy League to Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P.:-~ "Dear Sir, —I have been asked by the committee of this branch to bring under your notice, as senior member for Christehureh, the fact that the committee set up to consider the defence of the Dominion, as stated iu The Sun - of June JO last, consists of military men only. There seems to be an idea'in the minds of many people, including some members of Parliament, that all we want, here is a military force and some submarines to guard our harbours, overlooking the main fact, that we. stand or fall as a portion of the British Umpire, and that sea power alone, in the first place, enables a successful defence to be marie. Without sea power, we might as well bo without a military force, and for that reason some people think New Zealand should contribute even more towards naval defence. As the command of the sea is so closely associated with the defence of this Dominion, the committee desire you to inllueirce the Government to have a naval representative put on the committee."