The Battleship Visit.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 September 1913, Page 4

The Battleship Visit.

— ♦ WHY WAS SOUTHLAND NEGLECTED"? The expenditure of £10,000 in connection with the visit of the 11.M.5. New Zealand produced a protest from Mr Hindmarsh. "How was all this money spent?" he asked. "Mostly on the carriage and care of school children/' replied the Premier. "Well, I would like to know who was the happy iuspirer of this brilliant idea to spend £10,000," continued Wellington South. Do you mean to say it had all that amount of educative value?" demanded the member, at a suggestion from the Ministerial benches. "Has a country like this the right to spend £10,000 iu this ni'.nner? 1 claim to be as loyal as any man in this House, so nonsensjtalk about disloyalty cannot be thrust at n.e. A? for the ben.;fU of U.n children, 1 doubt it; wKile the things said about the children by the sailors on -fho ship could not bo discussed iu this House," he exclaimed amid some amusement. The Hon. Mr Allen explained that *if the £10,000, went to the Railway Department, nearly £•3000 for conveyance by the Tufa nekai and other steamers and the balance to special trips for the officers and men. Several members rose to protest indignantly against Mr Hindmarsh's remarks about what the sailors said of the children, declaring that everywhere the vessel went the sailors showed nothing but courtesy and willing consideration to the children. Sir -Joseph Ward took the opportunity to express regret that the people of Southland were the only ones in New Zealand who were not a Horded a chance to visit the battleship. The vessel about five hours off the port, and of some If), 000 waiting to get aboard only 200 or i.IOO Avere able to get aboard. "1 know that the original intention was that she should stay there long enough to enable the people of the district to visit. Someone altered the arrangements: .1 don't know who, but as member of the district I should like an explanation," asked Sir Joseph. RESPONSIBILITY DISCLAIMED. The Prime .Minister stated that the Government of New Zealand had nothing whatever to do with the itinerary of the ship; that rested with the .Imperial authorities and the captain. He (the Premier) and the Minister of Internal Affairs had endeavoured to persuade Captain llalsey to give an extra day to the BlutV, but the Captain had decided that (lie anchorage was not safe enough to warrant him remaining at ihe Bluff over a day. ANOTHER ASPECT. Sir -Joseph Ward declared tli it iie happened to kuaw that long before (he vessel arrived here the vessel's itinerary was submitted to the Governor and the Government. When Iu- was ai Home the Admiralty authorities had shown him cablegrams they had received from Captain Halsey when in New Zealand. He knew that the Blufl' was left out at that time, and even afterwards when the itinerary was modified. AVhy were not the people able to go aboard? With proper arrangements the day would have been quite sufficient for the purpose. ENTHUSIASM RULED OUT. The feelings which prompted the Minister to this display were not grounded on loyalty, but probably on the love of advertisement oi perhaps of rubbing shoulders with those superior people from overseas, said Mr Hindmarsh in another outburst. What is this enthusiasm? Is it loyalty? No: it is clothes! Clothes! he added amid loud laughter. The member. continuing', proceeded to enlarge on the subject of enthusiasm, whereupon the Chairman ruled him out of order, with tlTe reminder that the word enthusiasm did not appear on the EstimaTes. The whole t.hiug was a muddle, who ever was to blame for it, and the Southland people bitterly resent it, commented Sir Anderson in reference to the vist o fthe warship to the Bluff. <nw at* ]