The New Zealand Government has decided to change its naval
policy. Instead of making, as before, a money con- tribution to the Admiralty, on the understanding that ceitain ships belonging to the Australian station will be stationed in New Zealand, New Zealand will pay for a cruiser of the `Bristol' class to be built in England, and will herself main- tain the ship when it is sent out. This is no doubt the beginning of a local Navy. In peace the cruiser will be under the New Zealand Government ; in war it will pass auto- matically under the direct control of the Admiralty. The plan corresponds to that of Australia, and is not unlike that which Sir W. Laurier proposed for Canada. It will be remembered, however, that Sir W. Laurier's scheme reserved to Canada the right to say whether she would allow her ships to take part in a war or not—a reservation that would have been almost impossible in practice. Whether the New Zealand plan commends itself or not to naval experts here, we feel sure it will be recognized that the help of the Dominions must be gladly accepted on the Dominions' own terms. It is obvious that a complete central control would be most convenient to the Admiralty, and it would very likely make most for efficiency. But the fatal thing would be to insist on that form of control at the cost of discouraging the loyal and enthusiastic ambitions of the Dominions.
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