GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 45, 21 January 1902, Page 5

GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

The Hon. R. Oliver who has returned to the colony from'England on a two month's visit, interviewed with respect to the Germans' attitude towards New 'Zealand, said :—"My wife and I have been recently travelling in Germany. You may go from one end of the country to the other and not hear an uncivil about the English. That" is our experience, at any rate ; but that is no guide to the feeling of Germans. Those you come into contact with when travelling—hotel and steamer people, and sqxmq— -are not likely to be offensive towards the travellers whom they are specially catering for. I know that behind this civility there is a deep-seated dislike of Britain and all that is British. The cause of that dislike is envy of our commercial prosperity, our maritime supremacy, and our great oversea possessions. That Germany is jealous of us there can be no doubt ; it is also certain that she is making gigantie efforts to oust us from the position she covets. What is the meaning of her naval activity ? Why is she building so many big battleships? It is not for protection of an ocean trade 01 preservation of colonies. Germany's efforts in regard to her navy are out of all proportion to any such requiremenst. There cannot be the least doubt .in the world as to the real reas >n. Sooner or later she intends to have a slap at us. The way to foil her is by retaining the mastery of the sea, and our folk must not relax their determination to do so. I may also point out that the South African War shows that, properly organised and armed, our colonials could hold their own against any invaders. That isone thing the Transvaal war has taught us".