OUR DREADNOUGHT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 481, 14 April 1909, Page 7

OUR DREADNOUGHT.

VIEW OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. THE OFFER APPROVED, Mr; D. J. Nathan moved the, following resolution at tho conference of Chambers of Commorco yesterday: . "That this cohforoiico. of the Chambers of Commerce of New Zoaland approve of the Government.'s otter to share in the defence of the Empire by presenting a Dreadnought to Great, Britain. That wo acknowledge and record that.' the prosperity and maintenance, of our'Empire'can be upheld only by each and every portion of "his Majesty's dominions providing, now and in the future, tor united defence,' and that we are prepared to assist in establishing such a position." . . . Mr. .Nathata said he felt certain that, tho resolution would meet with tho unanimous approval of tho delegates of tho Chambers ot Commerce., There w;as no question in the mind of any thinking person who had followed, the. writing 3 0 f the. leading mon of the Empire, during the .last decade, that the time was approaching when the. Empire would have to, be prepared to maintain that position that it had won and maintained in tho past—a. glorious .heritage that had keen handed down to us, and which we were anxious to hand down to our children. Unr flag had always been the emblem: of liberty; right, and justice. England's might was founded upon' and upheld by her "predominance m naval affairs, and we in this Dominion—as in other parts of the Empire : —must recognise that it was only right and proper that we should take upSn our shoulders part of tho onus and expense of maintaining, the Navy in such a state as to uphold our rights and liberties. Trade-' followed Iho flag. If wo lost our naval supremacy, our trade would follow. If wi> lost our trade, what would become of us?no did not ask those present to look at the matter from a pounds, shillings arfd however, that the taxpayers at Home paid *1 ajheaa tow d 3 tho „ y - l-V only paid 2s. a head. We were just as able to pay £1 a head as the people- at Home MI,SsJ / SC " ? econdad th °<»'<:- 3 1 , As , one *£o had been born under another flag, he qm to endorsed all that 'had

«,$ u ; Canlo / on (Wanganui) said he was unable tq speak on this question as the representative of the Wanganui Chamber Ho suggested that those present should voto ro™I n r ter ,n *™ dna «y «nd not in,their representative capacity ■ „ m**X*t Ha " jChristchurch) said ho did not think any delegate need fear cxPresoiiifi any opinion ,-on this question! if he believed that opmion to be in accordance with the opinions of those who.sent them here. ™ +„;i ti J ' x* larrl^ r (Christclmrcli) supportecrthe motion. The Christchurclr Council of. the Chamber of Commerce were vcrv .unanimous ,„ f avour of loh a lhe Empire was passing through a very ere'at crisis. ..Anyone Mdn had travelled AS Germany during the last, few years would that.they were only waiting until they cot W.v lor the maritime supremacy. .H 0 had in + testimony. to this. Tho/iruggle SSu Ho emphasised the g,;* a t moral uncut of the offer of the battleship r-nV" C' S < * T!,3 ? r (Timaru) said,the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce , as roTo ?r t0(1 K, itS wore e, favour of the resolution. M u,re 'y ln Mr. J. Maifcland Jones (Oamaru) siirl Ane resolution was carried unanimously.