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Thirteenth Day. be extended, if our means permit, to some approach towards coast patrol. I do not say coast defence, because that would imply a size and character of ship which our finances, I fear, will hardly be able to afford for a long time
8 May 1907.
NAVAL DEFENCE. to Coine.
(Mr. Deakin.)
In regard to the very judicious remarks you have made with reference to the question of manning, for my own part, I quite realise the wisdom of associating any local force which we may develop in the closest possible manner with the Navy. Of the efficiency of the Navy and the quality of its officers and men we have, from personal experience, in times of peace it is true, but still from prolonged experience, the highest possible opinion. Every confidence is felt in Australia both in British ships and British sailors, and no doubt is entertained of their capacity to give the best possible account of themselves when the time of trial actually arrives. But we also recognise that the Navy as a fighting machine is only kept in its condition of efficiency by the constant maintenance, even in the lowest ranks of the Service, of the highest state of training. We appreciate the discipline and training which our men have received in the squadron, and anticipate in the future that, by similar means, by association with the Navy, we shall be assisted to keep our local vessels, whatever they may be, up to its high standard. We shall not be willing in any way to accept for ourselves any less degree of proficiency than that which His Majesty's Navy enjoys, and by which its reputation has been established. A force, small as ours must be, would enjoy few, if any, opportunities of advancement for officers and men if it were a completely isolated service. On the contrary, it has everything to gain by being kept in the closest possible touch with the Navy, and with all advances as they are being made in Naval tactics or training. If, therefore, our partner, New Zealand, is able to devise what would be to them a satisfactory scheme of local defence, or make some amended agreement with yourselves, I believe the Parliament of the Commonwealth would desire to terminate the present agreement, to set free the ships of the squadron from any obligations at present imposed, and to devote our funds to the provision of a local force. The agreement, as you properly observed, is tripartite, and requires the consent of New Zealand as well as that which you have given. I quite recognise that. I have made no appeal to my friend, Sir Joseph Ward, either in public or in private on this head, because I felt it was a matter which he required to consider independently. As he knows, I have made him no suggestion on this topic of any kind whatever. But I say it will be a source of gratification to us if his Parliament terminates this agreement in order to follow, so far as New Zealand is concerned, whatever course it may think best. For our part, Lord Tweedmouth, your overture will be made known in the Commonwealth. Your words of counsel and approval will be very highly esteemed. We recognise this as a further step in the exercise of our self-governing powers with which are properly attached the responsibilities which can never be dissociated from them. Those responsibilities we have no desire to avoid; on the contrary we shall assume them with confidence in ourselves and in our cause, providing, so far as our means and population permit, a defence of the harbours of Australia, which will be an Imperial defence; it will not be the shipping owned in Australia alone that will enjoy the protection of our ships and forts; it will not be commerce especially Australian that will be protected by this harbour defence; but of course the same protection will be secured by these means for all British shipping and cargoes. The necessary supplies, the necessary coal, either for the mercantile marine or for your vessels of war, will there be under safe shelter and always at hand. All the stores required to maintain the Naval force while it is in our waters would be safe in time of war. These, I take it, are no mean steps towards the protection
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of that portion of the Empire not merely for its own needs, but affording a Naval base for all operations which may need to be conducted in those seas.
8 May 1907. That ought not to be under-valued. Every development of Naval force in Australia is a development of the Naval forces of the Empire. It will be NAVAL DEFENCE. capable of being utilised for defence and also in connection at any time with (Mr. Denkin.) your squadron in our waters for offence also. Of course, even if the agree- ment be terminated, the visits of the squadron to our seas will not cease. They will be paid in ordinary course. I also understand that as at present the Navy will, for its own sake and in recognition of our common interests, obtain the largest portion of its supplies from Australia and New Zealand; that is to say, whatever supplies can be obtained on the spot; that we shall have the opportunity of seeing in our ports the ships of this powerful united fleet that will be composed of the three squadrons of Australia, India, and China. That is very necessary as maintaining a link of Empire of a very real character, which makes an extremely strong appeal to the patriotisni of our people. The Navy is immensely popular. The British Army we do not see except in our own militia. The Imperial Navy represents the great guarantee of its existence as well as a guarantee of our liberties and constitutional privileges. The Navy is an extremely popular Service, and, realising that, we are sure the Admiralty will not fail to allow us the opportunity from time to time of seeing the vessels which have made the British flag paramount in all seas.
I could not pass by a speech so extremely gratifying to Australian sentiments as your own without this notice. I do not for one moment pretend to have adequately dealt with it.
Let me say, and in conclusion, that, of course, we look upon any vessels for local defence not only as Imperial in the sense of protecting Australia, but because they will be capable of co-operating with any squadron, or any part of your squadron, which you may think fit to send into our waters to meet any direct attack in proximity to our coasts. In that way, we ought to be able, with the type of vessel we shall have, when associated with your larger ships, to render extremely effective assistance. And so far from the termination of this agreement in any way concluding our close and intimate relationship with the Imperial Navy in Naval Defence, I hope it will be the means of enabling us to extend Naval development, in very efficient forms, in our own seas, making it of such a character as to be of material assistance if ever a foe to the flag should find his way into our waters.
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Sir JOSEPH WARD: Lord Elgin and gentlemen, I would like to try and make the position, as far as New Zealand is concerned, quite clear in connection with this matter. The remarks I made on a former occasion-- which I do not propose to refer to at any length again-I adhere to in every respect. That is, in brief, that in a developing country of the size of New Zealand, about the size of Great Britain and Ireland, and a comparatively young country, we cannot undertake the possible future obligations entailed in the making for the provision of anything in the shape of a local navy. We believe it is of great consequence to the future development of New Zealand with its enormous potentialities for the settlement of people, that the necessity of maintaining that development must, in view of the financial obligations involved in providing a local navy, take precedence with the Government of that country in the interests of the people of that country. I adhere absolutly to what I stated before in that respect. New Zealand has made no request of any kind for an alteration of the existing agreement, and I readily acquiesce in the suggestion made by the First Lord of the Admiralty that New Zealand in relation to the Mother Country will of