NO SEPARATE NAVY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 3

NO SEPARATE NAVY.

NEW ZEALAND’S NAVAL POLICY.

MINISTER OF DEFENCE ON THE JELLICOE REPORT.

The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen), who is in Christchurch on a brief rest from the strain of Parliament. discussed with a “Star” interviewer last night the matters of naval policy in the light of Admiral Jellicoe’s report. "While endorsing tho recommendations generally. he indicated that a policy would have to he framed h,V Parliament, after discussing tho report. PAYING FOR PROTECTION. “ The recommendations are just what I have advocated all along,” said the Minister, “and as for the cost, New Zealand should pay her share, ft is all a matter of increasing our production and population. No, I do not think the plans are too ambitious, for the more we increase our production and population the greater the need there is to carry out Viscount Jcllicoe’s policy. If production is going to decrease per head of population instead of increasing, however, we might, ns well wipe New Zealand off the slate. The whole essence of the thing is increased production and population, and the burden is not too heavy to carry.” MANNING THE SHIPS. Sir James expressed no doubt as to the possibility of getting New Zealanders to man the Dominion unit. “ I do not think there will be very much difficulty,” he said. “ because it is not a very large unit, and it does not call for a heavy personnel. A great many New Zealanders are taking to tho sea. It is an attractive service, and should appeal to tho imagination of the young men. Of course they will be recruited young. T do not think the increased pay will prove a. disintegrating force in its relation to the British Navy, but of course the pay in the British Navy has been raised recently. It will be a higher rate of pay in the New Zealand unit, but when they are serving with the British Navy they have to receive the same rate of pay, and the difference will be paid in increased superannuation allowance. PHILOMEL FOR TRAINING. Discussing the training of local boys for the Navy, Sir James said that the Admiral had indicated that H.M.S.. Philomel, with certain alterations, would lie quite suitable as a training ship. From her the man would be drafted to the New Zealand unit or other units in the Pacific. Tho Admiral’s proposal was to place the officers on tho general list, and the whole of the Royal Navy would be open to them. NO 'SEPARATE NAVY. “ It is not a local navy,” Sir James added. “It is a New Zealand unit of the Imperial Navy. 1 never even dreamed of a local unit apart from tho British Navy. The unit trill be different from the Australian Navy in this respect, that on the outbreak of war or when war is imminent the New Zealand unit passes over without any cavil to the control of the Admiralty.” He added that although the s.s. Amokurn was a mercantile training ship, ke hoped to see many Amokurn hoys gravi- , fate to the Navy. As for commissioned officers for the local unit, they might , be trained in England or Australia.