31 MAY 1913, Page 2

The Toronto correspondent of the Times said on Thursday that

it was not yet clear what the action of the Senate would be on the Canadian Navy Bill. It is certain that the Govern- ment will not accept the dictation of the Senate and will not refer the Bill to the people. Nor is there likely to be an early general election. The prospect is that Parliament will be prorogued soon, and that there will be an autumn session, at which the Navy Bill will be reintroduced as well as a Redis- tribution Bill. It seems that the Admiralty will have to wait longer than was expected for the Canadian Naval contribu- tion, but that the contribution will be made in due course we do not doubt. We have always held strongly that all colonial contributions should provide an additional margin of security. But Mr. Churchill has used language which pointed to the colonial contributions as being a necessary part of the defence of the Empire, though not a necessary part of the defence of the United Kingdom. In the event of a prolonged delay by Canada the Admiralty programme necessary for the defence of the Empire would, on Mr. Churchill's showing, have to be reconsidered.