DISILLUSION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9420, 16 April 1909, Page 2

DISILLUSION.

(Prom|Thelßulletin.) The Standard,, in ''welcoming Maoriland ’a ;w noble- gift, contrasts Premier Ward’s snperb words, “If necessary, two Dreadnoughts, ’’ with. Mr Asquith’s “if necessary’’ grudgingly applied to the four conditional Dreadnoughts in April, 1910. Cablegram. “Two Dreadnoughts! Forty hundred thousand quid 1 ! S tnpenaons’ ’! cried the Editor, “Begad, . When I contrast with this oor paltry bid, I grow, despite myself, both grieved and sad. “Bring me” —this to' a clerk—-“a . Whitaker Or Statesman’s Year Book, Anno D. ’OB ;1 I am consumed with longing to refer In detail to this patriotic State. “Merely to say its Premier’s as ‘snperb’ As Asquith’s infamous cloes not suffice; I want to know about each sheep and herb Aad. hyman in Ward's isles of fire and ice. “Torn np the population figures. What! Less than a million? MarBut then The country teems with virgin gold. To that, No dunbfc is due its glut of wealthy men. “Look under ‘Finance.’ Yon will find, I’ll swear, This Land of Promise stands foi solvency; No European country will compare With it be sure, for rugged honesty. ‘ ‘ Say that again ! Owes how much? Man, you’re mad. Sixty-six million pounds, and most of it To "England. No! ! Hand me the book, my lad—. You’re wallowing chin-deep in error’s pit. “Lord save ns! Do I dream? Or v. am I dead? This place had cadged from ns to meet its dearth Till now it owes more sovereigns per head Than any country on this wide old earth, “Also it has no navy of its own ; It can’t provide a single fighting hand; All It can do is raise another loan By way of boosting up Land. “The nerve of it!. Hand me my stylo pen, a t A ream of copy-paper, and get out The while I put, before the face of men, This lavisher of other’s cash to rent.”