CABLE NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2617, 27 September 1909, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

matter to what unit' he belongs, will be in command.

COMMONWEALTH FLEET,

The Commonwealth will also take over the existing Government' navy yard at Sydney, winch is not to be diverted from its present purpose. Possibly also, at a later date, there may be a large Commonwealth dock at Fremantle, for which negotiations are already tentatively in progress. You will thus observe that the Conir monwealth will relieve England of her present laa'ge responsibilities. This courageous step will involve a heavy financial burden, but the Mother Country will help the Commonwealth to bear it. Altogether the new scheme will involve an outlay that will absorb half a million sterling annually for in- ! terest and sinking fund on a naval loan. The British contribution over and above that sum will he a quarter of a million sterling annually for interest and sinking fund on a naval loan. The British contribution over and above that sum will be a quarter of a million a- year, making the total cost of the Commonwealth fleet three-quarters of a million.

NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA.

If New Zealand raises a loan for the payment of her battleship cruiser, the cost to the taxpayers will be £150,000 a year for interest and sinking fund, apart from 1 the donation of £IOO,OOO a year.

Canada stands in a different position to Australia and New Zealnad. Already she has an excellent army, and possesses whatever value is to be found in the Monroe dootrine. Nevertheless, in the interests of protecting her own commerce, Canada desires to lay the foundation of her own fleet. Instead of a large battleship cruiser, Canada will, in the first instance, provide herself with small cruisers and destroyers, to be placed on both her seaboards. Already Canada has arranged with the Home Government to take over the maintenance of the Halifax and Esquiuiault navy yards. The work for Australia and New Zealand will be taken in hand by English builders as soon as the decision of the two Governments has affirmed that of the conference, but fully two years will elapse before these colonial contributions to the Empire’s navy will he brought into being.

THE COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVE’S OPINION.

(Received September 26, 5.5 p.m.; LONDON. Sept. 25. The Australian Commonwealth representative, Colonel Foxton, is settling final details as to defence matters with the Admiralty. In an interview he stated that there was no reason todo übt that the Defence Bill would he welcomed generally, for the public think we have possible danger in the future. One cannot say, lie added, what that danger may be, but thq feeling exists. He expects that by June, 1912, or at all events at the end of that year, the present Imperial Australian squadron will be relieved by the Australian fleet unit. The building of the larger vessel is to be commenced immediately, and the others will be begun at dates which will make their completion synchronize with that of the larger one.