Ashburton Guardian in Ashburton, Canterbury

Naval prep urged by Colonial Premiers at Lloyds conference

Lord Selborne spoke at a London Lloyds conference urging sustained naval preparation across colonies. He warned that without years of buildup no cruiser or battleship could be ready in time, and that colonies must invest proportionately to defend the empire. He stressed naval power as the binding force holding the empire together and cited vast seaborne trade as UK taxpayers’ burden.