NEW ZEALAND'S DREAD NOUGHT.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 May 1912, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND'S DREAD NOUGHT.

to this i-;.uiTuii

Sir,—Taking into consideration the present aspoct of things between Eng land and Germany, as evidenced in tho cable news coming through to us this last week, the bitterest oi' Sir Joseph Ward's political enemies and critics must acknowledge that great credit is due to that gentleman for his action in connection with Now /*jealand;s presentation of a battleship to the Mother Country. A great deal of carping criticism and cheap political barrack ing was indulged in a while back in reference to Sir Joseph's action in this matter, but circumstances have very quickly proved it to have boen an instance of lii? wonderful fo.rsenic ability and sagacity, It is all veiy well now to be quite agreed about the Government's present action in allowing the battleship to remain in British water, and so on and so forth, but tho point that is sticking out fine and large to day is, that only for Sir Joseph Ward this Dominion would have had no Dreadnought to leave with the Admiralty at this present juncture. Yours faithfully Joe Bea,