RETRENCHMENT AND DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 9

RETRENCHMENT AND DEFENCE.

Sir,—ln your issue of April 5 a letter appeared, under tho heading of "Past and Presvntj" in which tho writer stated that certain prominent Liberals intended framing a monster petition demanding the resignation of tho Prcmior. If tliie is so, I trust that Pctono will not bo overlooked, as there aro hundreds of workers here who aro utterly tired of tho tactics of this most elusive Prinlo Minister) and would gladly sign tins same two if necessary. Sir Joseph Ward has proved himself entirely lacking in that conscientiousness and sincerity displayed by Sir Harry Atkinson in his memorable retrenchment policy, and also in tlio sturdy independence of Premier Fisher of Australia, who refused to take part in tho ihdecont scramble for notoriety over tho late Dreadnought farce. In fact, Sir Joseph, so far as true politics are concerned, Inust bo classed as neither flesh, fowl, not' good red herring. Hero is olio department of latter-day politics, however, in which our Primo Minister stands alono, and that is tho dubious art of compromise. Docs Sir Joseph honestly consider that tho drilling of school children with toy rifles is an adequate d<s fence for those islands? Or does ho merely lack tho necessary courage to go the whole hog? Sir Joseph has missed a golden opportunity of doing a great service for this yotlilg community, a service which Would have Bhono as tho oiic bright spot, in an otherwise none, too brilliant career—but, no, it was not to be; the eternal love of compromise, as usual, won tho day. • I cannot understand that our landed proprietors, business men, and our permanent working people can be so apathetic on this question of national dofenco. To me, a citizen atmy seems the soundest of all insuranco policies, bosidos which tho giving of Dreadnoughts, that wo will never see, compare as tho wildest of wild-cat schemes. It has been argned that if tho British Navy sustained a crushing defeat our export trado for the time being would be paralysed, and therefor it is to our interest to help maintain tho supremacy of tho British Fleet. Well, even so, that is no reason why we should put all our eggs in ono basket, for in tho event of ft British reverse, surely it is better to be a livo dog than a dead lion. , Switzerland would never havo retained her independence to-day had it not been for her citizen annj"; sho would havo been gqbbled up by tho greedy Continental Powors by whom sho is surrounded. It would cost too much in men and nionoy to conquer littlo Switzerland, hence tve havo peace, perfect peace,, as far as sho is concerned, at any rate. It may be' that in the not distant future wo may lose Sir Joseph Ward. Owing to the shadow of coming events, ho may contemplate a visit to tho Old Country, tboro to reap tho toward of his services to Messrs. Asquith and Co., and if his reward should take tho form of a position involving financial judgment, all I can say is, the Lord help the British Exchequer, While Sir Joseph is being banqueted and so forth, we poor New Zealandors will bo loft defenceless, to the tender mercies of the pugnacious .Taps., thanks to the selfish schemes of our incompetent law-makers, who seo nothine ftroater than a stupid titlo from tho Old Country or a few cheap words of praise from tho London "Times."—l am, etc., RAYMOND TUNE. Petone, April 6.