EMPIRE AND NAVIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 679, 2 December 1909, Page 7

EMPIRE AND NAVIES.

>. AUSTRALIAN UNIT. LOAN'BILL. A' SINKING EUND OF 4 PER CENT. (By Telcßraph-l'reaa AsßOolatlon-OopyrlshU Melbourne, December 1. The Commonwealth Naval Loan Bill has been introduced in tho nouse of Representatives. It deals with financing of the Australian naval unit (one Dreadnought-crnisor, three secondclass cruisers, six destroyers, and throe submarines—tho total, annual cost iir connection with which will bo .£1,250,000, including' interest and sinking fund). ' ! . Tlio Bill provides that thb money shall bo raised by inscribed stock at not more than 3i per cent. The power is reserved to raise any part of the money by 3i por cent Treasury bonds. These may be exchanged for inscribed stock or redeemed out of tho money raised by the issue of the stock. The inscribed, stock will be made redeemable. Provision will be made for a sinking fund of 1 per cent. Tho fund starts im July, 1912. , v .. " .'. The moneys raised are to be appropriated for the initial cost of the Australian unit.' NEW ZEALAND'S DREADNOUGHT. . London, November 30. ' Lord Ranfurly, an ex-Governor of New Zea- ■ land, replying to the toast "The Empire," at the banquet to Sir John Taver'ner, said, in all tho colonies the-people; were even more, loyal to tho Crown than dwellers in the Motherland. Ho instanced New Zealand leading, the way with a Dreadnought, and added that the other States were doing all in their power to increase tho Navy. .. ' • .

BOTH PARTIES EMPIRE-BUILDERS. • PEOPLING THE DOMINIONS.. . ~ London, November 30. / ■ Lord Northcote, . late Governor-General of Australia, speaking at the Devonian dinner, said/both political,parties; in Britain were firmly determined that there should be drawn closer tho bond of union between Great Britain arid her overseas possessions. The Colonial Office must rigidly; and .sedulously, abstain; from anything in the nature' of interference.'•"..-,

.;' England, proceeded Lord Northcote, was overcrowded. It was the duty of the future statesmen to direct th,e overflow of .population, towards the grcat'fertile spaces of Canada, Australia,' Now Zealand, and South Africa; which were awaiting ■ development. Thp increasing greatness or decline of-the'Empire might depend upon'those by whom the dmninions were peopled. , ',•....;: .•■/."':...»"-■

BANQUET TO SIR'JOHN TAVERNER.

'/ -.;■■.','." ■;...-• London,' November. 30. /Lieutenant-Colonel- Seely, Under-Secretary for the . Colonies,: presiding at- a complimentary banquet ;to. Sir John Tavorner, Agent-'General for Victoria, declared that all in tho Colonial Office recognised; thb, great: .services to/ the Empire rendered by tho representatives of the :'■-. ":'■ i:,. ; . : ''/;,:: '.:' - '.'■)' ; Sir John Taverner referred to the good effects of Sir Charles Lucas's recent, visit.to Australasia, tho recent Imperial Conferences here, and the Empire Chambors of Commorco Con-ference-in Australia. ..<: ."

[Sir John William Taverrier (whose knighthood was'in the recent Honours list) has since 190-i beenAgent-Generai for Victoria, to which position' he was npnoiited when Minister for, Lands and Agriculture. v in the Irvine Government. Jlis first experience in -public'life'was asa member of the Swan Hill Shire' Council, .Victoria, of which'hri : was twice presidont. . In, 1898 he', was, returned as representative in',the Legislative Assembly-. of Donald and; Swan Hill,. and retained his scat until 'his departure for London. ;Ho first held office-as .Commissioner.: of Public Works /and. vice-president of the'.Board/Of.Lniid and Works, in thV first Turner Government, from 18W to 1899, subsequently/joining, the Irvine Ministry. He was a member of the first Railway Standing Committee. Sir John Taverher -.was' born in Molbournb in 18S1, ■ and Was.' educated at the Scotch Grammar School, in .Williamstown.]