The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1969. THE NEW ZEALAND DREADNOUGHTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2462, 29 March 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1969. THE NEW ZEALAND DREADNOUGHTS.

It- is not surp’Hsing that the “Ball Mall Gazette” & . U » Asquith’s method'*of fencing land’s offer of Dreadnoughts has raised an ugly suspicion that while seeming to welcome it he is really mocking and evading its purpose. What New Zealanders had a right to expect was that they should either be told that tlieftgift, though appreciated, was unnecessary, or else that it was accepted. There should have been no opportunity for reservations or qualifications of any kind. The whole essence of the magnificent offer on the part of New Zealand -was its spontaneity. Its acceptance should have been couched in the same spirit. Instead we have an ambiguous telegram •which may mean almost anything. “In view of the uncertainty that ex- . ists as to the character and extent

of the demand which may be made on the national resources in the following year, the offer of the Government of New Zealand to ; bear ivitliin that period the cost of providing one first-class battleship of the' latest type and of a second of the same type should subsequent events show it to be necessary, is moot gratefully accepted by His majesty’s Government. Your Government will doubtless understand that it is impossible to enter into details by telegram, but you will receive at an early date a full communication by despatch, as His Majesty’s Government desire to consult with the Government of New Zealand as to the time it may become appropriate to give effect to their public-spirited proposal. So far as the coming financial year is concerned, the provisions and powers for which sanction is being asked in the Naval Estimates now before Parliament afford ample security.” ' The English Government' says in effect that the Naval Estimates at present before the English Parliament afford ample security and the time when it will make use of the gift can be discussed later. This is completely begging the question. It was because the Estimates do not make the necessary provision to cope with the situation caused by Germany’s naval activity that such a- wave of feeling has swept over the Empire in regard to the navy. !r. Asquith’s attitude to New Zealand can be summarised thus: —“You are quite wrong in assuming that we, that is, the Asquith Government, have not made proper provision for the security of the Empire. We do not need your Dreadnought, but as it would bo impolitic to refuse it we shall be glad toaccept it as part of our building programme for next year.” Needless to say, that is far from realising what was meant by Sir Joseph Ward in making the offer lie did; and he will be justified in withdrawing it until a moro definite acceptance of it as a donation %o bo immediately effective is .given, jutto , “Pall Mall Gazette” .says

place a vessel which would otherwise have been built by the British taxpayer. If New Zealand’s generosity was merely employed to further the aims of-the ‘Little Navy’ party bitter indignation would be provoked.” We are also told that at an enthusiastic meeting in Charing Cross, a resolution moved'by Mr. C. W. Belairs, M.P., was carried, which “regretted that New Zealand’s offer as an immediate offer was not accepted, the Government utilising it to mitigate our expenditure in 1910.” Altogether it would appear that the Asquith Government is riding for a fall over naval matters, for if there is one thing in regard to which the people of England will stand no nonsense it is in regard to the navy. Once let a statesman give an impression that he is lukewarm on the question of maintaining Britain’s supremacy on the sea and he may as well resign from office.