CANADIAN NAVY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9711, 5 February 1910, Page 5

CANADIAN NAVY.

FIGHTING SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS. United PressAssooiation—By Eleotrio Telegraph Copyright. Received February 4, 10.15 p.m. OTTAWA. February 4. Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Premier in the Dominion House, moving the second reading of the Navy Bill, said the Government would stand or fall by their policy, but fall they would not. Their pclicy was in accordance with the best traditions of the Liberal Party. It was the latest link in a long chain of events, springing from principles enunciated by the reforms of old, which brought Canada to the rams, dignity and status uf a nation within th«: Empire. The Conservatives were divided in counsel, and the action of some | were the Pharisees of Imperialism, in that they demanded direct contribution and giving the Adm'ralty automatic control of tha Canadian Navy and Canadian participation in all British wars. Others in Quebec wanted no navy and no participation in British wars. "I do not pretend to be an Imperialist," said Sir Wilfrid, and he added: "I am a Canadian first, last, and all the tine, but I am a British subject by birth and conviction, and the true policy, and one in accordance with the spirit of British institutions is fo" the Parliament \ of Canada, which creates the Navy, ! to say when and where it shall go \ in time of war. His recent statement trmt when England was at war Canada was at war was merely a statement of a principle of internationaljaw, that when a .country was at war all her possessions were liable to attack. He saw no menace in the fact that the Government would, after the Bill was passed, ask for tenders for the construction of a shipbuilding plant for the Dorairion. This plant would take a year to perfect, and vessels could thereafter be constructed in four years. Sir F. W. Borden, Leader of the Opposition, criticised the speech, and moved an amendment declaring the advisability of his suggestions being reconi mendations to the Government. I

THE OPPOSITION'S AMENDMENT. DREADNOUGHTS PREFERRED j TO A LOCAL NAVY. , Received February 4, 11.30 p.m. i OTTAWA, February 4. j Sir Fred. Borden's amendment continued that "so far as they empower the Government to withhold Canada's naval fcrces from those of the Empire in war time the proposals of the Government are ill advised, dangerous and expensive, and give no immediate or effective aid, and as a permanent policy should not be entered upon until submitted or approved by the people. In the meantime it is Canada's duty and the Empire's impending necessities can best be met by placing immediately at the disposal of the Imperial authorities a sufficient sum to purchase or construct two Dreadnoughts, giving the Admiralty full discretion to expend it at such time and for such purposes of defence as theirjudgment deems nest to serve and increase the united strength of the Empire.and thus assure its "peace and security."