5

A, 4

New Zealand waters. This arrangement, owing to the great and growing menace of German naval strength in Home waters, was not carried out. 11. In 1913 Colonel Allen (now Sir James Allen), Minister of Defence, visited London to confer with the Admiralty and the Committee of Imperial Defence on naval matters as affecting the Dominion of New Zealand. As a result of this visit, arrangements were prepared for the organization and training of a New Zealand Naval Force, the officers and men of which were to be available for service in any ship maintained in the future by the New Zealand Government, or in any ships of the Royal Navy in New Zealand waters or the Pacific, or belonging to the China or East Indies Squadrons. It was understood that the manning of ships in New Zealand waters was the primary object of the New Zealand Naval Force. An officer of Post Captain's rank was lent to the New Zealand Government to act as Naval Adviser and Senior Officer of the Naval Forces. The New Zealand Naval Defence Act of 1913, for the proper government of the Naval Forces, was drawn up and passed through the New Zealand Parliament in December of that year. An important provision under this Act was that the New Zealand Naval Forces and all vessels belonging thereto would automatically " pass and remain under the control and be at the disposition " of the Government of Great Britain " during hostilities between Great Britain and any other country or countries. The further provision exists in the Act for the Governor-General placing the New Zealand Naval Forces under the control of the Government of Great Britain " whenever war between Great " Britain and any other country or countries is imminent, or when in the interests " of Great Britain it is expedient to do so, or upon the request of the Government " of Great Britain." 12. The outbreak of war occurred before any action J tad been taken in the matter of recruiting and training officers and men of the New Zealand Naval Forces. 13. In 1917 the question of naval defence was again considered in London, representatives of the Admiralty and of all the Dominions except Australia being present. The principal subjects for discussion were the necessity for working out a definite scheme of naval defence for the Empire (as to which a resolution was passed), and the question of the great future importance to the Dominion of New Zealand of naval affairs in the Pacific Ocean. 14. The proposals formulated by the Admiralty as the result of the resolution referred to in paragraph 13 were discussed by the representatives of the Dominions (except Australia) in 1918, but were not considered practicable, although it was recognized that construction, armament, methods and principles of training, administration and organization should be on the same lines in all the Naval Forces of the Empire. The ideal stated in paragraph 5 not being obtainable, for reasons which are very fully recognized, the question of the organization winch will give both the strongest navy numerically, and the most efficient organization of that navy becomes the point for. consideration. Experience has shown abundantly that responsibilities in the matter of naval defence are far more clearly recognized and far more cheerfully