PRAISE AND DESERT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1447, 23 May 1912, Page 6

PRAISE AND DESERT.

The Government's very natural and sensible acquiescence in the Admiralty's suggestion that the New Zealand Dreadnought should remain in the North Sea deserves all the praise that is due to naturalness and sensiblencss. Mr. Mackenzie could obviously have given no other reply to the British Government's telegram than that which he did give; it was obvious to him, as it would have been' obvious to almost anybody in his place, that the New Zealand public, so far as it had or might have any wish in the matter, would wish the vessel to be located where it would be of the most use. It must be remarked, however, in fairness to Mn. Mackenzie, that had he chosen to send a brusque reply to the. effect that his Government wished to adhere to the arrangement made in 1909, he could have defended himself against the startled indignation of all sensible New Zealanders by appealing to the precedent set by Sir Joseph Wakd, who, when it was tactfully suggested to him by the British authorities that something should be substituted for the Dreadnought, obstinately insisted on adhering to the original terms of the offer. We do not wish to stress the comparison between the simple and inevitable reply of Mn. Mackenzie to the new suggestion and the strange attitude of his predecessor when somewhat similarly placed; although it is a comparison worthy of a little reflection.' The point that needs attention just now is the attitude of the English press towards the "Yes, certainly" of Mn. Mackenzie.

The London Mail says that "the splendid patriotism of the New Zealand people, and their eagerness to take a full part in Imperial defence, was proved by the gift of the battleship; now it is shown by the unselfish offer to meet new developments in the north." The Express and Pall Mall .Gazette comment in a similar strain and the Telegraph regards "New Zealand's latest act" as a "splendid act of sacrifice," the more splendid in that the New Zealand people number less than the population of Liverpool and Manchester. Time was—and not so long ago—when praiso_ for the New Zealand people coming from leading London newspapers was simply swallowed greedily and converted to party uses. But that time, wc are certain, has gone by. If the' offer of a Dreadnought, followed up by a refusal to insist in a pig-headed fashion that it should be stationed in any particular place, is a praiseworthy and patriotic thing deserving of the generous comments of the English journals quoted, we can feel pleased and grateful. But is it altogether a mistake to suppose that the Government's sensible adoption of the Admiralty's suggestion entails any sacrifice upon anybody. How could if I New Zealand had no sentimental or material interest in the establishment of our vessel in the Yellow Sea, or, indeed, in any particular sea at all. It is a great pity that we really do not, as a people, deserve all tiie kind words of the London writers. Their attitude must make most sensible people. Hern feel a little uncomfortable. Will the unconscious irony of the London comments not also help to make New Zealanders feel a little ashamed that they have dono nothing to force their governors into making naval responsibility a reality for us all?