THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 54, 29 March 1909, Page 2

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

CABLE NEWS

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Cooy. right.)

EXGLAXD AXJ> XKW ZEALAND'S

JNIIIGXA'iiOX AT GOVERNMENT'S ACITOX.

XUK CEXSUHE MOTION. London, March Hi. / Hie Labor members of the House of Commons decided to'vote against the (-ensure motion provided that Cabiaeron .Mondayannounces not to go beyond Mr. Asijuith's present position regarding warship construction.

An enthusiastic meeting at the Playhouse, Charing (,'ros», under the auspices of tlie Navy League, demanded eight Dreadnoughts to be begun and completed at the earliest possible date. Lieutenant C. \V. Bellairs, Liberal member for King's Lynn, is the mover of a resolution which regrets that New Zealand's oiler, as an immediate offer, could not be accepted by tile Government instead of utilising'it to mitigate our expenditure in lull). London, March 2(i. The Pall Mall Gazette declares that .Mr. Asipiith's method of fencing New Zealand's oiler has raised an ugly suspicion that while seeming to welcome the oiler he was really mocking and evading its purpose. Xew Zealand never intended to replace n vessel which otherwise would have been built by British taxpayers. If Xew Zealand's geucrosity was merely employed to further the aims of the little navy party, bitter indignation would be provoked.

LABOR PARTY'S ATTITUDE. London, March 16. Mr. Kcir Hardic, at South Norwood, declared that the Labor Party considers the colonial offers to assist the'navy are an insult to the greatness and majesty of the Mother Country, and that there was no foundation for the miserable icare.

NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER.

UNPARALLELED IN HISTORY.

Received March 28, 4.30 p,m. , London, Marc* 27. Colonel Seely, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, speaking at Ilucknall Torkaid, .said New Zealand's splendid generosity was unparalleled .in history. The Australian States and other colonies were following the Dominion's example thus showing their eagerness to assis't the Motherland if necessary. '

THE GOVERNMENT'S WANT OF APPRECIATION. Received March 28, 4.15 p.m. London, March 27. Sir Gilbert Parker, speaking at Milswell Hill, said the Government's reply to New Zealand's oiler was either misconception or Wind inappreciation of ita benellts, especially of the magnificent demonstration of the growing sense in the colonies of their moral obligation to share the responsibilities of the Empire. The reply contained the same elements of quibble that the Government had shown in relation to the four conditional Dreadnoughts.

THE NAVAL DKBAMV "■'■" MR. BALFOUR'S EXPLAXa'i Ivj.N. Received March 28, 4.30 ii.ni. London, March 27. -Mr. Balfour, in a letter, explains that the vote of censure is the oulv course open, as by the rules of debate 'it would only be possible to move the reduction of the estimates.

CANADA'S SELF-RELIANCE. A NAVY OF HER OWN. Received March 29, 1 a.m. Ottawa, March 28. There arc indications that Canada intends to create defence fleets in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and thus release the Motherland of all responsibility of defending her.

GERMANY'S WARNING. " ' Berlin, March 20. Some German newspapers admit that the action of thc Reichstag in voting the naval estimates without debate was meant as a warning to foreign countries of German inflexibility.

RUSSIAN' COMMEXT. • St. Petersburg, March 20. the Xovob Vrciuya, eommenthg upon the British naval agitation, contrasts Germany's ])rotcstation3 of friendship with her hasty, secret, militant preparations. r '

AUSTRALIA'S ACTION. NEW SOUTH WALES' APPEAL. -pi i , „ . S y dße - v > March 27. J . lb ° Loti Mayor's appeal on behalf of the Dreadnought fund says the fact stands out that the Empire is already weighted down with the cost of defence and maintenance, and we must lace a largely increased expenditure. To maintain tho present impregnable position her sons must assist. New Zealand, to says, has nobly led the way. The Hon. Wade (Premier of New South Wales) has wired to the other StatePrcmiors stating that he considers the Dreadnought scheme inappropriate, and suggesting instead that the States should combine «nd increase the navv subsidy to half a million.

DISORDERLY AT PERTH.

„,, „ Perth, March 27. Hie Mayor presided over a packed meeting at the Town Hall.

•Mr John Forrest moved a resolution asking the Federal Government t 0 inform the Home authorities that the people of Australia are prepared to mate every necessary sacrifice to maintain thr supremacy of the sea.

Ihe moving of an amendment on behalf of the Australian Natives' Association that the necessary sacrifice take the shape of increased'expenditure for local defence, led to great disorder. The Mayor, amidst a wild scene of commotion, declared Sir John Forrest's resolution carried.

The movers of an amendment afterwimls, at an open-air meeting, adopted a resolution protesting against the Mayor s ruling, and claiming the amendment carried by three to one, BRISBANE'S ATTITI'DK. Brisbane, March 27. United correspondence lias passed between the Chamber of (cinimeive uml tluUnyor over tile lalter's refusal to eali n Dreadnought meeting. The Mayor declared tlmt when the citizens as n body signiticil their wishes lie would aot witliout ooercion.