PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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fund, which would pay for replacing such vessels and for other necessary cxpenditure.
This method would enable the Imperial Government to give to the Colonies the most modern and effective description of vessels and armament, while at the same time the Colonies would furnish the ways and means for so doing,
F., G., and H. Ministers fully concur in the terms of these sub-sections, as to an increased number of cadetships for the Colonies, the employment of vessels during times of peace, and the term of years for which an arrangement of this nature should be made.
As the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are prepared to enter into such a scheme, it appears to Ministers that the difference of opinion which they express with regard to sub-section E. need not prevent a satisfactory arrangement being arrived at, beneficial alike to the Mother Country and the Colonies.
As to the nature of the defences, and the class of vessels to be employed for the Colonial service, your Ministers are of opinion that these are matters which, like the question of command, must be left to the Imperial naval authorities to determine.
Having expressed our views on the points suggested, the question arises as to the expense of the maintenance of this defence force, and in considering this it is necessary to take into consideration the cost of defences for Thursday Island and King George's Sound.
Assuming that the Colonies have to pay according to population, the proportion to be borne by this Colony will be about 7,000l. a year.
Already the local defences cost about 20,000/. a year, and this sum must be annually increased, although probably not to any considerable amount, in completing the fortifications, &c., &c. Your Excellency's advisers doubt very much if Parliament would sanction so large an outlay; but if the other Australasian Colonies concur in the proposals, Ministers will be prepared to consider the question of bringing the subject practically before Parliament.
ADYE DOUGLAS.
"G."
LETTER from His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA to the ADMIRAL.- VIEWS ON COLONIAL NAVAL DEFENCE.
Government Cottage, Rottnest Island, February 24, 1886.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 24th of December last, respecting the arrangements to be made for the more complete naval defence of the Australasian Colonies.
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2. I exceedingly regret that my duties in Western Australia will not permit me to absent myself from my post for the purpose of attending the conference on this important subject, arranged, as I understand, to be held shortly in Melbourne.
3. I um therefore under the necessity of offering in writing the remarks which this Government has to make on the scheme of naval defence indicated in your Excellency's letter.
4. I cannot think that any more suitable arrangements could be decided on than those which are suggested. It is only on one point that I would venture to offer some observations.
5. It is proposed that the sea-going vessels (five " Archers" and two torpedo vessels) shall be built and equipped at the cost of the several Colonies, and shall be jointly owned by the Colonies.
6. It has suggested itself to me that it might be a better and simpler arrangement for the Imperial Government to provide the special addition to the station squadron, considered from time to time to be necessary, the Colonies merely paying to the Imperial Government an annual subsidy to cover the extra charge involved.
7. An analogous course to this has been followed when military forces have been stationed in a Colony for Colonial purposes. Why should it not be adopted in respect
of a naval force similarly stationed?
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8. The annual sum charged by the Imperial Government should, of course, cover interest on the capital outlay, as well as depreciation, in addition to the charges mentioned in your Excellency's letter.
9. There appears to me to be a certain disadvantage and difficulty in half-a-dozen Colonies becoming the joint owners of a number of war vessels, under an arrangement with the Imperial Government for a limited term of years, as to the manning and administration of the vessels.
10. It might be desirable to alter the type of one or more of the ships, and in this, and other contingencies which can be easily imagined, the fact that the Colonial vessels could not be removed from these waters without the consent of six or seven Governments might hamper the arrangements.
11. If the five" Archers" mentioned in your Excellency's letter would not require to be kept in commission in time of peace, and if peace should be of long duration, some of the vessels might be laid up until they deteriorated or became obsolete, without ever having been used.
12. Since their foundation a century ago, these Colonies have not been disturbed by an enemy. It is quite possible that the proposed Colonial sea-going vessels may see no active service until, owing to the progress of science or other causes, they are of no use for active service.
13. Bearing these and other contingencies in mind, would it not be better for the Mother Country to strengthen the Australian Squadron now and from time to time as might be agreed upon for the security of this part of the Empire, the Colonies making such money payment to the Imperial Government as would cover the cost of the additional vessels.
14. In other words, us before stated, why should not the system heretofore pursued when military protection was required by the Colonies he adopted now that naval protection is required?
15. From the figures given by your Excellency, I roughly gather that the scheme indicated in your letter would entail on the Colonies a first cost of about 635,000/. The annual charge would appear to be, on the war footing, somewhere about 115,000%; on the peace footing, somewhere about 75,000/.
16. Supposing that, under the arrangement I suggest, an annual subsidy of 180,000/. in war time, and 90,000/. in peace time, were paid by the Colonies to the Imperial Government. Would not the Imperial Government, for such consideration, be justified in raising the Australian Squadron to the extra strength indicated by your Excellency, and would not the arrangement be more elastic and leave greater freedom of action on both sides?
17. It is presumed that any payment required to be made by the different Colonies would be apportioned on the basis of population.
18. Each contributing Colony would, of course, desire to see Her Majesty's ships in its waters as frequently as possible. To avoid future difficulties, perhaps some understanding or arrangement on this head would be expedient.
19. I could not finally pledge this Government to any payment without the previous approval of the Legislature.
20. It is possible that a doubt may arise whether the limited means and lesser wealth of Western Australia render it necessary that this Colony should pay for naval protection extra to that afforded by the present Imperial Squadron. I myself, however, would always be in favour of Western Australia entering into partnership with the greater Colonies of the Continent in any scheme of the kind now proposed, so tar as our means will allow.
21. Requesting your Excellency to lay this letter before the Conference on Naval Defence,
I have, &c.
F. NAPIER BROOME.
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