THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 573, 30 July 1909, Page 5

THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

(To thiEditobJ Sir,—As I believe my amendment to the resolution re Dreadnought offer passed by the Fanners' Conference to-day contains matter of most vital importance, I crave space to set it out a Httle more fully:— What the Prime Minister said to the Con■faience of Chambers of Commerce in Wellington is" identically' what'■' my amendment sets out, viz.,' that the offer' was made entirely ."tor effect,"; fevr "what people think of'us"l Brilliant men like Sir Joseph Ward are liable at times to misjudge a situation. To-day's cablegrams confirm the fact that Britain's statesmen are' aHve to all contingencies—the four contingent ■ Dreadnoughts are to bo ordered. ■, -for a colonial politician :to • dictate a i course to the Imperial, authorities was undoubtedly a presumption, and the snub which was administered, 'took the form of postponing acceptance of the offer-until next year.' At a time when our finances; are so, straitened, at a time when the Imperial Government were endeavouring to dissuade Germany from furiously building, was it not ill-timed to rush in and make ourselves ridiculous before the eyes of every country's Cabinet? Patriotism, like charity, should begin at, home, lest poverty como in at the door, and love fly out of the window. Home for me and for thousands of New Zealanders is here in New Zealand, and what sort of patriotism was it in the,face of unemployment,, financial stringency, and reduced values, to wildly offer to increase our taxation'up to five millions, for the.purposes of "effect"? When . Mr. Seddon sent. contingents .to Africa, the.money to fit.them'out was spent in New Zealand. They came back hero with their pay, trained and .hardened soldiers— the nucleus of an- army—that was statesmanlike—but how utterly, unbusinesslike, how utterly' unworthy of a financial genius to offer millions of money wbioh would be of no direct benefit to. those finding it. In conclusion, I am astounded that both Government and Opposition members of Parliament allowed the Prime Minister to pro-. ceed to the Naval Conference without propounding .a proper naval policy. The Prime Minister said he had one—but will it not bo too late, when the conference is over, for any amendments which our young nation might wish to inake, to bo considered by the Naval Conference?—l am, etc!, ■ •' , , '. 'EUSTACE LANE. •lull' 2S. •