The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1909. FOR OUR OWN COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2508, 22 May 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1909. FOR OUR OWN COUNTRY.

If Maoriland’s representative at the great naval conference is asked how his country stands from the point of view of local defences, he will have no option but to sit silent and look extremely foolish. To have to make the admission that will be extracted from him when the special delegates of the globeencircling Empire get down to solid business and ask of each other: What can you do to help yourselves and the Empire should war break out? will be humiliating in the extreme. All the glitter of the Dreadnought gift—excellent though its effect on the outside world—wiir.fizzle out like a dead match ■when, in secret conclave at Westminster, the shameful failure of our people To take steps to defend their own country is revealed to the delegates. That conference will, in all probability, prove the most momentous gathering that has ever taken place in the history of the -British Empire. We do not know all —for it is quite likely that Mr Asquith and his Ministers have obtained information that cannot with wisdom "be made public —but wo do know sufficient to indicate that a great crisis has arisen in the nation’s history ‘and with commendable statesmanship the Home Government has arranged te call in the best counsel from the widely scattered portions of the Empire te assist in coming to a conclusion which must be of great import to all who acknowledge the sovereignty of King Edward. At that conference there will be no opportunity for smooth flattery and the discharge of flowjng periods by practised orators. Self-deception will be entirely out- of place, and it can confidently be predicted that the delegates will face things as they are. England cannot five, for ever on the glories of Nelson, and the real subject for discussion jwillbe: How is the Empire to bc-iUade secure,against foreign .attack ? Each delegate will be expected to te.l franklj aiid clearly how the territory which he represents is likely to fare if selected as a point of attack by an enemy it ‘being pointed out that the navy, even 'though invincible, cannot be in all parts of the world at once and may temporarily, at all events, be eluded. When the "turn comes for New Zealand’s representative to answer this question Sir Joseph Ward —if lie be present —will in all probability wish lie had remained at home to attend to domestic legislation. He will be forced to admit that the grand little country which sent its contingents to the Boer war and which presented a warship to the Empire, has absolutely neglected its local defences, and would fall an'easy prey .to any attack that might be made by a foreign force. If the subject were pursued further Sir Joseph’s position would he still less pleasant, for lie would have to confess that the fault of this deplorable state of affairs lies not with the •people of the Dominion, but with the Government of which he is the head. -Just how we really stand from a defence point of "view is admirably ‘forth in an exhaustive article that is published in to-day’s supplement. This article relates in detail the present position of the volunteer force and indicates in a clear and striking manner the extent of our unprepareilnesS for war. The subject matter has been compiled by the staff of the Auckland “Weekly News”, who are to be Complimented upon having presented the best exposition of the defence question in New Zealand that has yet been published. It should he read by every New Zealander who., is in the slightest degree, concerned in the welfare of his country. Those who peruse it will find, 'clearly demonstrated the fact -which we have repeatedly emphasised, nametv, that our people are living m “a tool’s paradise” in not making reason•able preparation to ward off a surprise •attack that might be made against us -should the Mother Country be involved in war. It is useless for us to continue to rely absolutely and solely upon ‘England for our protector. Some -years back, when writing on this same ■question, we reminded our readers that the time might come when England •would no longer rest unchallenged as the Mistress of the Seas, and that it ’was conceivable the time “RS-w < r t j n^

'than we could have expected, and now till the world knows, that Germany has in, effect issued a challenge to the Bri•tlsli in navy building. The Two-Power ’standard which, but a year back was 'claimed by British statesmen to bq eg ;>ential to national safety, has now been Virtually abandoned, and present <>f•forts are being concentrated upon a desperate attempt to maintain a marked superiority over her most dangerous rival. In other words, at least one great Power is not disposed to accept the dictum that Britain must remain invincible oh Tne high seas, and is preparing to contest that position, if not by actual war, at least by demonstration of power.- All this can " or.n for New Zealanders but one thing, namely, that they must prepare for possib'e invasion. There is only one way to do this, and that is by a system of compulsory training. Such a system would, wo feel sure, be welcomed by the peoIple as a whole, for in this matter they Vseem to be much more - patri iric and far-seeing than their rulers. A country that is worth living in is worth sighting for, and. are should be sorry to see the day that a foreign foe. was .'permitted to land on our territory and Enabled to exercise its wishes on a people who have always cherished the instincts of liberty that are the peculiai ’heritage of the Anglo-Saxon race.