A COLONIAL NAVY.

Thames Star, Volume XXXX, Issue 10448, 20 September 1902, Page 4

A COLONIAL NAVY.

(Per Press Association.—Copyright.)

MELBOURNE 1, September 18,

Mr Deakini (Acting-Federal Premier) states, in connection with the naval agreement arranged at the Colonial Premiers' 'Conference in London, that the Commonwealth contributes! £200,----000, New Zelaan-d! £40,000, Cape Colony £50,000, andi Natal. £35,000 per year. The agreement lasts far 10 years.

In .return for the increased contributions the Australian squadron will be largely improved and modernised in type and* power or armament or vessel®. The chief vessels will be first-class armoured! cruisers of from 10,000 toi 12,000 tons. .

One of the cruisers' will be manned by Australia^ andi New Zealanders.

Provision! will be made for training naval brigade on three of the older vessels of thei Australian squadron.

The reserves' will all be raised in the colonies, and paid] at the local rates.

The importance of Australia as a base for coaling 1 and! other supplies is expressly recognised. 'SYDNEY,' .September 18.

The London correspondent, of the Daily Telegraph, writing on the work of the Imperial Conference, says its most noticeable feature was tie defeat of the ultra-Imperialistic party and the slump in Ssddcinism.

After a good deal of negotiations over the naval subsidy, Sir E. Barton and Mr Seddon agreed to recommend a contribution of. £240,000 a year, of which N«w Zealand's, share) will be £40,000.

Mr ©edd'oni's stipulated that onethird of the ships should always be mi New Zealand.

Sir E. Barton protested against this, on- the ground that Mr Seddon pledged! hia colony to one-sixth' of tihrie cost, andl wanted one-third benefits, j Sir E. Barton brought matters, to a crisis by announcing that he was prepared to recommend the Australian Parliament to vote £200,000 for tha exclusive right to the services of a slightly smaller fleet, provided that in times of peace the ships ware prohibited' from using any coal other tfeni English or Australian.

Thfe meant that New Zeal and would have to make a special separate arrangement for a small fleet iof its own, and would lose the benefit of the coal contracts for the Australian .squadron. Mr Seddom 'was quick enough to see this, and capitulated, and accepted the original terms, under which one warship and one cruiser for dr'll purposes will bei permanently stationed in New Zealand.

Mr Seddon obtained no support for his proposalsi to establish a fighting force for the service: of thle Empire, excepting some sympathy from the 'Cape and Natal. Sir W. .Laurier and Sir E. Bartort were so pronounced in their opposition! that "the project was promptly abandoned.

j An attempt to make Fiji an appanage of New Zealand also failed. I Mr Chamberlain asked Mr Seddon would he, if it was found preferable, bring New Zealand under Australian control, and support the transference ' of that oolony to the Commonwealth.

Mr Seddion ridiculed the idea.

"Then, .by whatf right," asked Mr Chamberlain, "do you, propose to usurp the government of am independent State like Fiji, ■which is gradually working out its destiny towards self-government 1"

'Mr ©eddoni! declined to discuss the question, saying in effect, "I can; see I have to face a hostile conference. "I will, therefore, not press the matter any further."