AN OFFER FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 463, 23 March 1909, Page 5

AN OFFER FROM NEW ZEALAND.

ONE FIRST-CLASS BATTLESHIP.

TWO IF NECESSARY. PRIME MINISTER CABLES TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. Tho I'rimo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) announced yesterday in an interview that tho Government has dccidod to offer the British Government to defray the oost of the Immediate building and Arming of one first-class battleship of the latest type, and if subsequent events show It to bo necessary, to provido the cost of / a second warship of the samo typo. In the course of an interview, tho Prime Minister said: — "The unanimity of both sides which tho rcccnt debate in 'tho British Houso of Commons has disclosed with regard to the gravity of tho situation between tho Motherland ami Germany, in so far as our naval ascendancy is concerned, cannot bo misinterpreted. No room is loft for doubt that England feols that her supremacy on the sons is now seriously threatened by tho amazing naval activity of tho German dockyards. "Sacrifice, If Necessary." "It appears clear that all thoughtful men in Great Britain recognise that the Empire must sot itself with tho utmost determination, and, if necessary, sacrifice, to maintain tlio naval supremacy upon which not only our honour but our national greatness depends. The burden lying upon tho British nation for navnl expenditure is at present enormous, and every loyal _ subject of the Crown must foel that in a timo of crisis like this ho is called upon to holp tho Motherland with moro than words. Now Zealand is proud of her past proofs of her loyalty to tho Mother Country, and stands to-day, in tho estimation of British people, as among t.ho first in British Dominions for a ready and loyal response, whoro tho necessities of tho Empiro call for it. Cabinet Unanimous. "In these circumstances tho Government of New Zealand felt its obligation to assist tho Motherland, and a Cabinet meeting this morning unanimously agreed to my proposal that this country should olfer to defroy the cost of the immediate building and arming of one first-class battleship of tho latest type, and, if subsequent events show it to

be necessary, that New Zealand should provido tho cost of a second warship of tb«. same typo." ; Sir Joseph said that he had sent this '■ offer through his Excellency tbo Governor to tho Secretary of State to tho Colonics that afternoon. Ho added that this is a , : time when any waiting or halting on tho ] part of the New Zealand Government would enormously lesson tho value of any assistance wo might eventually give, and ho felt confident t that a matter touching our national existenco would bo treated as abovo party consideration, and would appeal to every section of tho community as a right ■ and proper thing to do. ' Not a Hurried Doclslon. Apart from tho moral effect of this offer, lie added, it had to bo remembered that ; oven upon tho ground of self-interest it is amply justified, since in this country tho valuo of our national and' private wealth is : now nearly six hundred millions sterling, and tins largely depends upon tho British Navy ior its security and defence. This determination had not been hurriedly arrived at. He had been revolving tho whole matter for some days past, and, after anxious and carej. consideration, brought it before some of V s c ?! lc,a S UOS on Saturday morning last. All tho Ministers were present at the mooting ol Cabinet yesterday, when the matter was dealt with, and, as ho had already stated, tlio proposal had been cordially and unanimously assented to. A Lesson to tho Outside World. "In a caso of this kind," continued tho Irmio Minister, "I fully recognise tho responsibility of such an action as tho Government lias taken, but at a juncture like tho present delay in the ordinary seuso of tho term is out of the question, if wo want to bo of servico to tho Old Land. Tho only tiling to do is to act promptly in tho direction of showing tho outside world that in tho laco ol this extraordinary building programme which Germany has been pushing ahead for some time past, and actively carrying out in dilioront yards, tho Old Country can rely upon tho assistance of tho people of her out. lying dependencies. This is the way to mako for peace, which is so all-importaut not only ' to our own race in tho Old Land but to tho peoplo of this country as woll. Every interest in Now Zealand is deeply concerned in the successful carrying out of the work of the British Navy. The assumption that there might be a bombarding of our own gates in the event of a trial of strength at sea is scarcely likely te bo verified in fact. Ships of war around our civil coasts may thereforo bo regarded as of secondary importance, but tho carrying of our products to the Old Land is of vital consequence. Now Zealand's Interests. "It is well known in confidential circles hero that there has been an extraordinary movement within tho last twelve months on tho part of Germany, not only to get along" sido of, but to outstrip the power of, Britainon the sea. It is quite clear tha* the annual interest on the payment for a ship of war, added to what wo are paying already, is a small amount to pay by way of insuranco, apart altogether from tho prestige of our flag and British interests at Homo and abroad. Tho annual interest on tho cost of a first-class battleship would work out, so far as Now Zealand is concerned, at about Is. 3d. per head. I think no dispassionate critio can object to this very small payment in return for tho value received in tho way of protection, apart altogether from tho feeling of loyalty, and the dosiro tha,t _ New Zealand should help maintain the power of our Empire. It is idle for us to shut our eyes to the fact that the impregnability of tho British Navy is of as great consequence to us to-day, i' net of greater consequence, than over it was, on account of the growth of our national and private wealth. Wo cannot, as wo aro progressing year by year, expect^ from tho standpoint of our own requirements as to safety and protection, that tho same condition of affairs which existed fivo or six years ago, can bo satisfactory to-day. A Time of Crisis. Sir Joseph also said that tho fact that both parties in the Old Country realised ■ tho gravit.v of the present situation, and' i more especially that tho peaoo party, which had fought in and out of Parliament so stronglv against additions to tho oost of tho Navy, had within the past week or two publicly changed its course, and some of its leaders had expressed thomselvcs as favourable to a speedy augmentation of tho fleet, gave a clear indication that a posil tion had arisen which could only bo rightly described as one of crisis. • This must bo realised even by tho casual newspaper reader who had no intimate knowledge of tho situation. Tho time called for tho burying of any sentimental notions, which somo peoplo had about the protection of nations, and for .actioil on practical lines. The Government's Motivos. "It is unnecessary for mo to say that tho Government has not been actuated by any sentimental desire such as being first to offer to provide assistance in the directions ■ decided upon, but wo have acted with a [ grave sense of responsibility, and with a thorough recognition' of tho fact that cvii deuce of the loyalty - and cohesion of tho British countries overseas to the Old Land is of prime importance, as showing that in times of emergency the- tics of race, however scattered the British peoples may be, aro drawn .closer ill order to. create a strong phalanx, which can face' the- aggression of 1 a common foo if one should unhappily ariso ' in any part of tho world."