NAVAL DEFENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14017, 25 June 1913, Page 4

NAVAL DEFENCE.

The Government is at sixes and sevens on tho question of naval defence, and at pro's out lias no settled policy. Before going to .the Old Country the lion. Mr Allen (Minister for Defence) had a consultation iff Australia with the Federal authorities ou the question, and prior to that the Dominion and Federal uovernmonta had Been in communication with each other; on the subject. From what subsequently transpired it appears that Mr Allen was greatly influenced by what he heard in Australia, and as a .result went Homo' with a view of getting the - Imperial authorities to alter their naval policy so far as tho Pacific colonies were concerned. The question of a Separate, navy for Artis-., tralia and New Zealand was suggested, But the Home authorities, while treating the colonial visitor with every respect; politely declined to alter their opinions to suit the views of the Federal Government and their Now Zealand convert. No official intimation of what really transpired at the Conference at Home has yet been made, though energetic newspaper correspondents seem to have been apprised of what took place. Certain it is that Mr Allen made suggestions or proposals at Home which since his return to the Hdminion he has found it undesirable to proceed further with—possibly because Sir Joseph Ward may have something to say on the subject from the, other viewpoint when he comes back. And now Mr Massey proposes that consideration of tho naval defence proposals shall be deferred until after the next Imperial Conference. Tho suggestion is a wise one from the Government point of view 7. The fact is—the Government has no settled naval policy, and Mp Allen seems to have complicated matters by his indiscretion at Home. Therefore Mr Massey is not particularly anxious to face Parliament without a definite scheme. But there is another side to the question, and that affects tho public. And this aspect is thus referred to by tho Post:—lt is surely incredible that a Government which tho Premier himself has described as Imperialistic will not rather face any risk than seek shelter from the discharge of a plain and imperative duty in so transparent a subterfuge.. The squadron, that is. -supposed’ to protect Ne.w Zealand'is' practically ■ non -existent, says the . Premier, but it may bo necessary to wait two years, not merely beforeTus Government can do anything, but before it can- even make a dofiuitel proposal'. As, Imperialists, • Ministers would be better consulting both the interests of toe Empire and their , own honour by facing the "position at once, even if it -cost them loss- of office.. They have .already had -nearly ■a ■ ycap. to think the-matter over, and during 'that'liberal but - not extravagant .interval they have had the immense advantage of the personal , consultation of one of- their own number -with'the Admiralty ano the , Imperial Defence Committee, as well.as with the • Governments' at -Melbourne - and Ottawa. No more zealous and competent emissary could have been obtained than ■Mr,-James-Allen, whose report is now before his colleagues. If .they approve of that report, let them produce it and go ahead. -If they do not approve of it, let them produce something else and go ahead. The one unpardonable thing .is to mark time under the darkening shadow of the Oriental menace, to remain passive and helpless without an effort or a-n idea for' two years after our Prime Minister has .declared that, bo far as thp .'Pacific is concerned, we are practically without any paval defence. Yet this is the very thing that the Prime Minister himself is, at any rate, prepared to countenance.