"Recognising how important it is for the protection of the Empire that the Navy should be at the absolute disposal of the Admiralty…that the truest interest of the people of New Zealand will be best served by having a powerful Navy under the independent control of those responsible for directing it in time of peace or war…so that the most effective results for the defence of all portions of the Empire may be assured." -Sir Joseph Ward
Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward quoted in T.A Brassey (ed.), The Naval Annual 1909