THE NAVAL BURDEN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 484, 17 April 1909, Page 9

THE NAVAL BURDEN.

: yoirthmk it fair that people 1 of means should denyo an income from their ' riavy, which at tho best of times is ■an. unproductive asset, that must ovoriiane as a millstone about the necks of the people ? If people should not attempt to derive an' income, from tho .Navy, why should England's Navy be built, as some propose, by mcaiis of a loan, instead of out'of revenue? If tho people have'the mone/ to' lend, they necessarily have it to spend. Why, .therefore ■should not the Navy be rebuilt out of taxation, insteadof by means of a loan? The same question arises in tho case of New Zealand giving-England a warship. If tiho.'.Govoniniont of this Dominion do not place a Rpccial tax on all property of, snv, • Jtl.: in the ,-Cl until'the bill is paid f tnjs Dominion will be disgraced iit. the eyes'of tlio whole world,, for. it seeks to win applause for making a present of something it is not pro.

pared'to pay for;, for, instead of paying for the warship; she. is asking England to do so, and leaving it to future generations of this Dominion to pay -tho bill, with interest added.—l am,'etc.y ■ *:.;,. . ; C. P. W. LONGDILL;. :■;;: P.S. —Seeing tho.enormous expense which' 5 continual preparedness. for war. involves on all nations, it seems to mo a great pity.that every nation does not possess 'stfficient m-: telligencc to subscribe at. least s'per cent, of what they expendv/in preparing for tho destruction of human life towards a league, whoso aim would bo to federate all.nations, '■ and thus establish a world-wide, permanent, :and everlasting peace on earth and goodwill among all men. Hysterical editors', ravo 1, at the brutality of men who will pay largo sums to see two men'punching, each oUior, : 'but considering-that, each 1 is well paid for.thc punishment he- rcceiveß, tho .brutality ■■ of; prize-fighting is nothing compared to., .the brutality of warfare which panders to the lowest instincts, of tho brute natures of tho ' human butchers, who are ever seekinc one ' : another's blood.—C.P.W.L;:. -, .:-"■/: ~ ! Mangawcka, April; 7. '■■■■■ : -}.y; i -v ;■''.A'?:^'-■■;.