THE BRITISH NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2468, 5 April 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

COMMENTS BY THE PRESS

THE “TIMES” ON MR, FISHER’S PROGRAMME.

United Press Association—Copyright

LONDON, April- 2

A meeting of the Labor party resolved to congratulate Mr Fisher on declining to be a party to a panic engineered for. political purposes. The “Morning Post” commenting on the resolution says that the Laborites are smarting under the severe castigation administered by the Croydon bye-election, and that the resolution displays extraordinary ignorance of the motives actuating the Commonwealth Government. Australia would doubtless attach the same importance to it as to the pro-Boer vaporings. The “Times’ ” correspondent at Sydney cables that there seems to be a mistake in supposing that New South Wales and Victoria offered a Dreadnought. He adds: “The nearest apjiroach is New South Wales' suggestion that if the Commonwealth offers a ship New South Wales will pay her share.” The English speeches and comments were based on Reuters’ telegram of 30th March, definitely announcing that Mr Wade, Premier of New South Wales, and Mr Murray, Premier of Victoria, had decided to offer a Dreadnought, and asking other States to cooperate. • Y The Manitoba Government has decided not to offer a Dreadnought on the grounds that the Dominion is the proper body to act. The “Times” states that Mr Fisher’s programme shows that the Commonwealth and Canada are alive to the naval policy: also that there is a parallel movement by both in favor of following New Zealand’s precedent. If (states the “Times”) theso gifts are decided they will be welcomed with pride and gratitude. There will be no detracting from the burden which Britain is fully competent and determined to hear, but the gifts will be proof upholding Britain’s resolve to maintain the supremacy of the seas. Further ..interest will centre in the local naval Services which Australia and Canada dre preparing to develop. The “Times” recalls Mr Balfour’s speech on Mr Cox’s amendment to the Address-in-Reply in February, 1907, as a classic exposition •of British Imperialism.

The Navy League lias already arranged for thirty-four meetings in large provincial towns.

Robert Blatchford, in the “Clarion,” publishes <* strong article, advocating a powerful fleet and a perfect army. The “Pall Mall Gazette”is amazed that Laborite members of the House of Commons should go out of the way to protest against somebody else offering to help to insure tlie country’s protection.

THE OFFERS OF DREADNOUGHTS. OPINION IN THE COLONIES. CAPETOWN, April 2. Mr Do Villiers, Attorney-General, speaking in the Pretoria Assembly, referring to the .suggestion of the offer )of a Dreadnought to the Imperial Government, said hi.siopinion was that the best present would be a united community. Any European • race imagining that in the event of a European war they might; look for help to a portion of the inhabitants of South Africa would be much mistaken. South Africa would stand as one man with the Empire. OTTAWA, April 2.

Several speakers hr 'Canadian House of Commons suggested the construction of a shipyard large.enough to build Dreadnoughts. SYDNEY, April 3. Mr Hughes, Federal Attorney-Gene-ral, “replying to an attack on Mr Fisher’s policy, /declared that the bulk ol those evying out for Dreadnoughts were doing so for no other • reason than to “dish” the .Labor party. They wore not so milch, afraid of an attack on Britain as an attack on monopoly.

" The “Herald,” in an appreciative article'on the decision, to present a Dreadnought, says': ‘ ‘Probably other States will be compelled by public opinion to follow the. lead of New South Wales and Victoria.” , .. .. ■ ~ ! The Lord Mayor has decided that the people’s Dreadnought scheme shall go J_. • . ■ „

PROPOSED CANADIAN NAVY. CANADIAN MINISTERS TO CONFER WITH ADMIRALTY. (Received April 4, 4.15 p.m.) LONDON, April 3. ; In pursuance of Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s statement, the Hon. L. P. Brodeur, Minister of Marine, and two other Ministers, will proceed to England after the propagation of the Dominion Parliament to confer with the Admiralty a» to the creation of a Canadian navy. THE AUSTRALIAN FLEET. AN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE. (Received April 5, 1 a.m.) April 4. Mr. Shenviu, proprietor of iron and coal blocks, has offered the- Federal Government 10,000 tons of iron ore for use in the construction_of the Commonwealth fleet. * NEW ZEALAND’S OFFER. THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 3. Continuing his statement at the - Upper Hutt on Friday niglit, the Premier went on to say The Government accepted the responsibility and when Parliament met the proposals would be submitted and they would He guided by Parliament’s decision. Proposals would be submitted to Parliament providing for the repayment of principal, sinking fund, and interest on the- money propose'd. to be borrowed, not by the generation or generations to follow’, but by ourselves in our own time (loud applause). They would do so without trenching upon any of the. present sources which were contributing to the consolidated revenue. They could earmark the loan specially to meet the repayment of the principal, interest and sinking fund, and' if they carried out a course such as that Parliament itself would ratify and confirm, as loyal Britishers in this portion of the Empire, that which had been done for the preservation, not only of England alone, but for the preservation of the British Empire. There was such a thing as party in this matter and he regretted that this element had been introduced in the Old Country. We had not made our offer in the interests of preference between the Mother Country and its outlaying lands; had not made it for commercial reasons, but to make stronger, to make greater, and to make still more impregnable the power of the British upon the ceas—that which was so essential to the interests of every portion of the Empire (loud ■applause). What were we getting in return for wliat we had offered? We were getting the protection and support of the whole British- Navy (hear, hear). Wherever the arbitratment of nations had to be asserted at the cannon’s mouth, it would not be on the shores of New Zealand, Australia or Canada. If New Zealand were to embark upon anything in the shape of a- local navy, if we were foolish enough, from the standpoint we occupied, to go lor anything in the shape of submarines or destroyers, without an auxiliary fleet (the financial strain of which we could not stand), of what assistance would it be in time of crisis to the Old Land? Our course is clear, continued the Prime Minister, for the protection oi our country’s interest lies far _ away from our shores. The protection of our sea-borne commerce is the British Navy and if we realise that it is to be the British Navy that we have to look for protection, then our clear duty is to co-operate with .our internal forces so as to be of assictanco by protecting ourselves (cheers). The Prime Minister pointed out that any of the great battleships could lie off our principal ports seven miles away and shell the city, and to urge that ’■e should co-operate with the Australian Continent in havin<r an inadequate system of submarines or” destroyers with the knowledge of what was going on in the scientific development of battleships was next door to childish (Hear, hear and applause). resolutions of local bodies. THE GOVERNMENT’S ACTION APPRECIATED. NELSON, APRIL 3. At the City Council meeting a warm debate took place on a resolution endorsing the action of the Government in presenting a Dreadnought to the Imperial Government. The resolution was carried by 7 votes to 3. ASHBURTON, April 3 The Ashburton County Council unanimously passed the following resolution: its appreciation to the Premier for Ins prompt offer of assistance to the Imperial Government in maintaining the undoubted, supremacy of the British NaV ' V INVERCARGILL, April 3. The Education Board resolved:— “That the Board heartily congratulates the Government in the demonstration of patriotism of New Zealand; m the presentation of a »Dreadnouglvb to His Majesty’s Navy.”