NAVAL POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1919, Page 4

NAVAL POLICY.

Mr. Massey has denied the report from London that New Zealand is in negotiation with the Admiralty about Hie formation of a squadron on the New Zealand coast, hut it would seem that he has accepted actually or tentatively the gift of a modern vessel from the Admiralty that is evidently meant to be the nucleus of a navy for New Zealand. Point is given to the matter by the statement made by Colonel Amery, Under-Secretary for the Colonies., reported in to-day's cables, that future command of the seas required an Imperial naval system with a fully equipped base, with Australia, Canada, South Africa, and other parts building and manning their own fleets. The same cable contains the remarks of a "high naval authority" to the effect that, "although Lord Jellicoe was visiting the Dominions in an advisory capacity, his recommendations of the amount of sea-power it was necessary for Britain to maintain in future eastward of the Suez would be of paramount importance, because the Admiralty regards this region as the j next dangerous zone, although no trouble Lit anticipated perlmpß for a, few years,

therefore much stronger naval forces are likely to be stationed in Australian and New Zealand waters." Lord Jellicoe's mission to Australia and New Zealand is to report upon naval matters in the same way that the late Lord Kitchener reported upon our military iieeds about nine years ago. Lord Jellicoe, the "high naval authority" tells ns, is in favor of local Dominion naval units, and the Admiralty's policy will probably be to supplement the Dominion forces with ships necessary to ensure the Empire security in accordance with Lord Jellicoe's report. Thus it is clear a change in the Dominion's naval policy is contemplated. In the past we have held aloof from the separate navy idea, subsidising, however inadequate to our resources and interests, the Imperial Navy. Australia, on the other hand, established and manned its own navy, but Australia has four times our population, and what was possible for her was not possible.for us. New Zealand has its responsibilities in connection with naval defence as well as other parts of the Empire, and how best to discharge them will present the problem. Lord Jellicoe's report will, no doubt, help us in finding a solution. The conclusion of peace does not mean that wo have got rid of the possibility of war. To ensure peace we must be in a state of preparedness. We have had our lesson, and can never again afford to be caught napping. If we are, then, maybe, exit the British Empire.- But we should bo sure that we adopt the right scheme and not saddle ourselves with one that will entail an expenditure beyond our means, A change in policy apparently is inevitable, but the public should be consulted fully before the change is decided upon. The acceptance of the gift warship really implies a departure from our past policy, and the present Cabinet, which may only have a limited life, should be careful not to commit the country in a matter of such vital importance before the proposals are first fully and thoroughly considered.