THE BRITISH NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2470, 7 April 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

THE DREADNOUGHTS. NOT UNBUILTFORLACK OF ' MONEY. 1 ... United Press Association —Copyright. "LONDON, April 5. Mr Ruuciman, Secretary to the Board of Education, isaid it wasvnntrne that Dreadnoughts were unbuilt for the lack of money. The Government knew, where, and how to get' this! He hoped that when the Budget eamc down patriots would not squeal. . ; OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN. COMMENTS BY~THE “TIMES.” (Received April 6, 11.35 p.m. \ LONDON, April 6. The Opposition propose starting, after the Easter recess, a national campaign to insist on the Government constructing the four' contingent Dreadnoughts in°l9oP. The “Times” declares that many Ministerialists deprecate the decision, inasmuch as if Mr. Asquith builds the contingent Dreadnoughts in 1909, aftci consulting Parliament betore the close of the session, the action may be attributed to the agitation. .They credited Mr. Asquith' with tho intention to build eight from the outset, as the compromise is considered one of form, not of substance. The idea is now suggested in connection with Sir Edward Grey s warning regarding re-building the. fleet that apportion of the capital expenditure should be withdrawn from the annal estimates and a sinking fund established. ' f ‘ COMMONWEALTH^! AVAL PLANS. A HINT FROM MR McKENNA. (Received April 6, 11-.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 6.

In the course of a conversation with Captain Collins, the Common wealth representative, Air. R. McKenna, First Lord of tho Admiralty, expressed a hope to hear soon from the Commonwealth Government concerning their naval -plans. He gave an assurance that the Admiralty ‘will cordially facilitate any feasible scheme the Commonwe&th Government may favor. : FURTHER STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. REPLIES TO CRITICS. [Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 6. In the course of an interview with a “New Zealand Times” representative, the Prime Minister said he had no desire to go into a general criticism of an interview with Air. Janies Allen regarding bis speech at the Upper Hutt, excepting on one point, where he wished to have' a wrong impression removed. Air. Allen was reported to have said: “I do not agree with the Prime Minister when he. says with regard to the Comonwealth that what they are doing is next door to childish.” Sir Joseph said he did not quite understand how any such deduction could have been made by Air. Allen, “for the press report of my speech,” continued .Sir Joseph, ‘‘the statement upon which Air. Allen has evidently based his remarks is as follows: ‘The Prime Minister pointed but that any of the great battleships could lie seven miles away from our principal ports and shell the city, and to Urge that we should eo-operate with the Australian continentjn having an inadequate system of submarines and destroyers, with a knowledge of what was going on in the scientific development of battleships, was next door to childish.’ The report of the speech generally was a good one, but was necessarily curtailed.” Sir Joseph said lie was’ dealing with a statement publicly made the night before in AVellington, that New Zealand should join with Australia in their defence, proposals. He pointed out that what Australia proposed might be quite satisfactory for that country, with a comparatively large continent, with a population four times as great as ours, but that in his opinion they would not suit the circumstances or conditions of New Zealand. He had stated that in addition to having destroyers and submarines for the purpose of protecting our coast, they would lie next door to useless unless tliey were supported bv auxiliarybattleships. Such a system was entirely beyond our resources, and would cost millions, and the annual upkeep would be an extremely costly one and entirely beyond our means. He also stated that to have an inadequate system of destroyers and submarines without an auxiliary fleet of battleships, with a knowledge of what was going-on in tho scientific development of battleships, would be a poor substitute for our standing by the British navy, and the advocacy of such in the light of our position was next door to childish, but his remarks had nothing whatever to. do with what ‘Australia proposed to do for her own defence. Sir Joseph Ward added that lie recognised that it was the Australians’ duty to do whatever they considered best in their own interests, and lie was quite confident so far as New Zealand itself was concerned, that if we went in for providing destroyers and submarines only without auxiliary battleships, if the time should ever arrive when it became necessary for New Zealand to defend herself against an ordinary squadron of battleships, or even against a single modern battleship, tlio man who att-em-peted to put into practice for New Zealand’s external defence' such a proposal .should deservedly have the title <>f “childish” applied to him. Our .real .strength on the sea was the British navy, not an Australian one. the only object lie had in giving tins short interview was to state that he had not discussed the' defence of Australia or any proposals they had made in connection. thei'ewitb. He was dca.mg entirely with New Zealand, and with a suggestion publicly made, un A\ ollingtmv- that, instead of supporting the British navy, we. should join Australia in their defence propossl, for tho protection of New Zealand, it was needloss for him to add that if'New Zealand was in trouble from a defence point of view, Australia would, in' all;

require her own equipment, whatever it might be, for the purpose of protecting hep own shores/ and people. Mr. Allen’s opinion a« to Australia •‘having a much more statesmanlike idea of the position than himself (Sir Joseph) was a matter of no consequence in a discussion of the' kind. He was not aware that/Australia had ever discussed what system of defence we should have in New. Zealand, and he .certainly did not presume to discuss what system they considered necessary to meet their re-quirements-in Australia. It was on record that at the Imperial Conference in London ho stated that New Zealand was quite .agreeable, to vary the joint navy agreement should Australia desire it, so. as to allow the Commonwealth to carry out whatever -system they deemed proper. CANTERBURY TRADES COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. . The. Canterbury Trades and Labor Council resolved, “That this Council exproses its unqualified condemnation of the unconstitutional action of Sir Joseph Ward and his Cabinet in daring to dispose of public money by the presentation of battleships to Great Britain without the authority of Parliament or the people; that we further endorse the action of Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., in placing the true facts of the position before the British Prime Minister.” . APPROVALS OF NEW ZEALAND’S OFFER. CANTERBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. The following resolution was passed at a meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce, held this afternoon —- “The Council of tin's Chamber of Commerce convoys to. Sir J. G. Ward its appreciation of the spirit prompting his action in connection with the offer of a Dreadnought as a gift from the colony to. Great Britain, and in connection therewith would suggest that the cost of interest on the same should be provided by surcharging European Continental importations to the Dominion to the extent necessary.” SOCIALIST MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH. A DISORDERLY GATHERING. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. A meeting hold in His Majesty’s Theatre this evening to. discuss the Dreadnought offer was' very largely attended, and over two thousand were unable to gain admission. Mr. J. A. McCullough, a member of the Arbitration Court, presided. 'From the outset it was evident that a considerable portion of the audience was opposed to object of the meeting, and all the speakers were frequently interrupted by the singing of “Red, White, and Blue,” “Rule Britannia,” and other songs. - . Air. T. E. Taylor, M.P., received a mixed reception on rising to address the audience, but it was apparent that Iris supporters were more numerous than his opponents. He moved "Whilst recognising the necessity for the efficient defence of the British possessions and commerce, and whilst approving of cordial co-operation to that end, liis meeting protests against the impulsive and entirely unconstitutional action of the Cabinet in pledgingMhe taxpayers to the expenditure of from £2,000,000 to. £4,000,000 without first obtaining the authority of Parliament for such a course, and regrets the failure of the newspaper press to safeguard popular rights in this matter. This •meeting declares that in its opinion tho Cabinet possesses no reliable evidence to justify its violation of the Constitutional rights of Parliament, and regards the Cabinet’s action as inopportune and an unfortunate interference with British party polities, in that it has furnished the ‘Conservative party in England with material which will be used to the injury of the Liberal party in England, with the result that urgently necesary social and economic legislation will be retarded. Further, it regrets that such a rash expenditure should have been undertaken bv the Cabinet whilst New Zealand’s local, defence forces are practically insufficient and neglected, and whilst such social legislation as that dealing with old age pensions requires amendment and questions of closer settlement and employment of the people are calling for,'immediate attention. Air. Taylor delivered a lengthy speech in support of the motion, and conclucled by stating that he did not fear his reception when he gave an account of his stewardship to the electors ol Christchurch North. , Air. A. D. Hart, President of the Trades and Labor Council, seconded tlio motion, which was supported by the Rev. W. A. Sinclair and Messrs A. R. Atkinson and D. Sullivan. Ali. Magnus Badger mounted the platform, and moved as an amendmen “That this meeting -pledges itself to delay expressing an opinion on the Dreadnought offer until parliament has considered the question.” (Great cheerTTiero was no seconder, and after a show of hands had been .taken, the chairman declared the motion eainei . A pandemonium of applause and booths o-reeted the announcement. Air. D. Sullivan, to the accompaniment of continuous interruption, moved. “That this meeting tenders to Mr. T E. Taylor its warm appreciation ol the manly stand lie has taken in connection with tho Government s panu •(rift of one ore two Dreadnoughts, congratulates him upon his outspoken remarks and liis efforts to place too true situation before the New Zealand public and the British Prime Minister, and tni«ts that his bravery m tlio face ot so much hostile newspaper criticisms may lead others of our legislators to so act as to prevent,the present or any future Government so outrageously violating the constitutional rights ot our members of Parliament and our rights .as electors.” . , , Air A. R. Atkinson seconded tin motion. which was agreed to amidst groat cheering, and the meeting closed. AY AJR O A~TOWN BOARD. WAIBOA, April 6. The following resolution was passed bv the. Wairoa Town,Board .to-day ‘/That thktoßoard, representing inhabitants of the town of YU mm, desires to place on record its cense ot the splendid patriotism displayed by the Premier in making, on behalf oi the Dominion, the offer of battleships to tho H nme Government, and that tins resolution, be telegraphed to tl 'V 1 re™; ior thi'oindi the Hon. J nines Car roll.