HIBERNIAN SPORTS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 59, 9 March 1916, Page 4

HIBERNIAN SPORTS

The fifth annual Sports of the Taibape. Hibernian Sports Club will be held on the local Recreation Ground cn St. Patrick's Day, M'arch 17th, and there ig every prospect, of this being the best, meeting yet held by the Club. Ail the nett proceeds are to be devoted to a fund for providing a Returned Soldiers’ Club in Taihape, so that the Sports deserve every support. The programme drawn up is very good and includes chopping events, horse-jumping competitions, boys’ and girls’ races, throwing the hammer, baby rescue race, physical drill, and putting the shot. Full particulars appear in our advertising columns. The entries for the chopping and sawing contests arc particularly good and the New Zealand champion, W. Feck, wi 1 be takingpart. Special train arrangements have been made to suit the requirements of country people.

BRITISH NAVAL POLICY. STATEMENT BY MR. LONDON, March 7. The Right Honj A] J. Balfour, speaking in the House of Commons, said the Admiralty was not carrying out a policy indifferent to its prececessors. Since the war began the personnel of the Navy had been doubled, the tonnage increased by over a million tons, and the strength of the air division of the Navy increased ten fold. The first problem was to maintain the Grand Fleet at adequate superiority to every force that could be brought against it. The Navy and Expeditionary Force had achieved all that could be expected and all that was professed, oh the whole. No one could predict the future relative value of Zeppelins and aeroplanes. The Government was developing airships in order to assist the Fleet in scouting, but there was a difficulty in housing such craft. Since the outbreak of hostilities the production of warships had been unprecedented. Mr. Balfour, introducing the NavaL Estimates in the Commons said ha

new proposed tc give a general ini pres,sion of the course of the Admin#] ty was pursuing. There were no German cruisers in a positon to face British commerce in any ccean. No details of particular ships could be discussed at present. Our Fleet was not an internal one. It was not merely British; many nations depended upon us for goods. A million horses and other aimals, 21 million tons of stores, 22 million gallons of oil, and four million men had been transported. Mr. Balfour, continuing, said Britain had not replaced the losses in armoured cruisers. Their present superiority was enormous and incontestable. If asked whether the Admrialty was satisfied With the present progress he would answer “No,’ but the limit of shipbuilding was the limit of skilled labour. The Admiralty had

never relaxed its desire to increase the strength of the weapon whereon the liberties of the world now more than ever were dependent. Fie must be a poor spirit who surveyed the position and measured tine greatness of the Fleet in comparison with the enemy’s and could not face the future in a spirit of cheerful serenity. MINISTER OF COMMERCE# WANTED IN GREAT BRITAIN. DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. LONDON, March 8. A deputation representing commercial and industrial interests waited on Mr. Asquith, and asked for the establishment of a Minister of Commerce, who is a business man. Mr. Asquith pointed out that it was 'arranged to hold a conference in Paris shortly whereat the whole question of commercial and economic relations would be debated. The Government had to considei*, not only the interests of the United Kingdom, but those of the dominions. He was glad to say that Mr. Hughes was in London, and Mr. McKenna, Mr. Bonar Law and himself would take the opportunity of conferring with him. Mr. Hughes comes with very definite ideas, and concrete proposals on this matter, and it is most desirable that we hear what the premiers of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have to say. He would be prepared at any conference or negotiations, to act, not only as spokesman for the United King# dom, but for the Empire as a whole; with the hope that we would be able to arrive at a solution- satisfactory to our Allies, the Dominions, and the United Kingdom. But, having in view the consultation we shall have with cur Allies and the dominions it is not expedient at present to make any definite announcement with respect to the policy the Goverment will advocate.