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Sir George Turner.] If you meet on Thursday morning, I will go away in the afternoon.
The Secretary of State.] Say 11 o'clock on Thursday morning. Mr. Kingston.] Has the question of defence been dealt with?
The Secretary of State.] What I would ask is this, that if it will suit the gentlemen present, that the Australasian Premiers will be good enough to meet here at 11 o'clock on Thursday morning, and that the other Premiers would join us at, say, 12 o'clock.
Sir John Forrest.] There is the question of the issue of Her Majesty's fiat. It only concerns us?
The Secretary of State.] It only concerns you.
Sir John Forrest.] When we were in Hobart we all agreed to a resolution. The Secretary of State.] Yes, there is no difficulty in other cases, because the remedy is given; yours, as I understand, is the only case.
Sir John Forrest.] I read my resolution before them, when they discussed it.
The Secretary of State. We will discuss it again, please, here, and put before you our view on the subject.
Sir John Forrest.] We all know the facts.
The Secretary of State.] It is a very difficult thing to refuse justice as against the Government.
Sir John Forrest.] Parliament has refused, and that makes it worse. The Secretary of State.] We will talk it over, and this question also.
I mentioned that there was a Mr. Kingston. On the question of defence. written representation by our naval authority with which we sympathise and which I do not propose to read, but I should like it to be before the Premiers generally, and I take the opportunity of handing it in.
SIR,
(Confidential.)
II.M.C.S. Protector," Port Adelaide,
27th January 1897.
I HAVE the honour to put forward the following suggestion as worthy of consideration when discussing the revival of the agreement between the Imperial Government and the Australasian Colonies for the maintenance of the Auxiliary Squadron.
"That instead of a money contribution the Australasian Colonies should furnish an equivalent in trained seamen for the Royal Reserve for service in Australasian waters and contiguous seas."
"
The sum paid by Australasia would suffice to raise a reserve force of 5,000 men, a number sufficient to furnish a strong reserve, not only to the Australasian but also to the China, Pacific, and East India Squadron.
The advantages of such an arrangement over that at present in force would be for the Imperial Government:----
(1.) A strengthening of the Royal Naval Reserve, the most pressing want at this moment, and one which owing to the great and increasing percentage of foreign seamen in the British Mercantile Marine, there is not any prospect of remedying.
(2.) Australasia as the depot, whence to draw such a reinforcement, has special strategic advantages of extreme value to the supreme sea power.
could be more rapidly Ail squadrons "east of Suez and west of the Horn. and safely reinforced from Australasia.
The home base would be lightened of this duty, and it would permit the concentration of all efforts on the points needing greatest attention the European waters and the actual seat of war.
The reinforcements from Australasia would not be in such danger of interference en route by possible enemies as if sent from Great Britain.
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(3.) The Australian reserves might also take the place of a certain propor- tion of continuous service trained men, whose services might be better utilised in the battle ship squadrons in European waters.
peace
Australasia, while immediately sharing in the advantages of increased naval strength, would gain others of economic value in time.
(1.) The money contribution would be circulated in Australia, instead of leaving the Colony.
(2.) The fierce competition that has so lowered the condition of the British merchant seaman as to threaten his extinction, has already been felt, though at present in a less degree, in Australasia.
The same causes will have the same effect in Australasia, unless remedied. The expenditure of the contribution on our seamen will afford them a strong measure of " protection."
A retainer of 127. per annum paid to a trained seaman, will give him an advantage over the foreigner who works for lower pay, and who will soon rule the sea labour market.
(3.) The advantages to any country of having their ships manned and all their sea industries worked by their own kith and kin, need no setting forth.
Sea defence is of vital importance to island peoples. There can be no sea defence without seamen. If our shipping and our sea trade is manned by foreigners who have no interest in defending us, we shall have neither seamen nor sea defences.
The 12. per annum retainer would pay 5,000 men, and leave nearly 56,000/. for a gunnery school, training establishments, payment of training staff, and material. In the training the local naval defence ships could be apportioned a part, just as the drill ships are in the United Kingdom.
A general outline only has been stated of the broad lines upon which a fresh agreement might be entered into that would advantage all concerned, both in war and peace time; details would, of course, be subject for future discussion.
In the proposed arrangements it should be stipulated that there should be no reduction in the present naval strength of the ships on the Australasian station.
It will be objected by the British taxpayer that he will then be called upon to pay the whole of the Auxiliary Squadron, while Australasia pays only for the drilling of men in Australasia, although intended for Imperial as well as Colonial service.
A sufficient answer to this will be that the Australasian expenditure will strengthen not only our own squadron, but all the squadrons in the Pacific, China, and East Indian waters, in which British interests are very great-and strengthen them with a certainty not otherwise possible; also, there will be some reduction in the cost of the Australian Squadron, as they will be partly manned by our reserve men in course of training.
For Australasia the encouragement of all measures that may tend to naval advancement, the fostering and development of conditions that tend to future naval strength, is of special importance, and situated as she is geographically, will have the most vital influence on her future.
Recent changes in the East, the rise of Japan as a naval power, and her well-known aspirations, the establishment of Russia at Port Arthur may have in the future an effect which will be undesirable to Australasia-the "New Hebrides" question of the next generation may be one much more threatening to our well being and one which Australasia, unable to take upon herself an honourable share in the burden of resisting, would be unable to evade.
The suggestion here put forward would go far in the desired direction. It is best that every growing community should also grow in the art of taking care of itself, which with us, a long and close study of the history of my profession tells me, must always be the naval art.
By the training of our seamen we should be taking the first step in that direction, and following our national instinct and traditions.
From the sentimental and patriotic aspect there could be no plan more certain to bind us to the motherland than one by which our own seamen will
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NAVAL DEFENCE. take the place in the fleet that "holds the command of the sea as a trust for
the civilized world."
The Hon. the Chief Secretary.
I have &c.
W. R. CRESWELL,
N. C.