THE NAVAL PROGRAMME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 64, 10 April 1909, Page 2

THE NAVAL PROGRAMME.

DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. Received April 8, 10.50 p.m. London, .apm 8. A vain appeal was made in the Commons to the Government to enable Parliament to present a united front by j an assurance of eight Dreadnoughts at ( the earliest possible date. , Mr. McKeilna, in' reply to Mr. J. j Gretton, admitted that Germany during j the past five years had made provision , for lifty and Britain for forty-nine destroyers. Only four of Britain's were , complete and ready for sea, compared with thirty completed by Germany. Mr. , McKeilna added that on the other hand Britain ordered thirty-six so-called coastal destroyers, now armed as flrstclass torpedoers, and of which thirty had been delivered. ADMIRATION OF OVERSEAS OFFERS. Received April 8, 11.5 p.m. London, April 8. The Council of the Royal Colonial Institute unanimously adopted a resolution expressing warm admiration of the generous oilers of the oversea dominion* to co-operate with the Motherland in the naval defence of the Empire. A BASE IMPUTATION. LATE .SIR H. CAM'PIiELL-BANNER-MAN .MALIC X ED, Received April !), 4.15 p.m. London, April 8. Admiral Smith-Dorrien, speaking at a Conservative meeting, declared that Sir 'II. Campbell - Bannernian's remains should be hanged -in Trafalgar Square "because he Its'travel his country.. Several Radicals urgently sought to "discuss the language in the House of 'Commons, but the Speaker refused, on 'the ground that he was ji retired adbecause he betrayed his country. AXSTRALIAXS IN LONDON WISH TO CONTRIBUTE. London, April 7. Several Am.'r ilians in London suggest that if a pub'.'c subscription for a.Dreadnought started in Australia, facilities should be afforded Anglo-Australians to join it. AUSTRALIA'S INTENTION. Received April !), 4.15 p.m. London, April 8. The Hon. C. H. Rmson', Agent-General . for "Westralia, in an interview, said lie , would aot be surprised if Westralia joined with New South Wales and Victoria -in offering a Dreadnought. Australia's intention was that ithe battle- [ ship should supplement whatever pro--1 gramme the Imperial Government ; thought necessary, and thus make . safety doubly sure. ' NEW ZEALAND'S DREADNOUGHT. | By Telegraph.—Press Association. j Woodville, Thursday Night. The Woodvilh> County Council to-day unanimously passed 'the following resolution:—"That this council eonveys .to .Sir Joseph Ward, the Prime Minister of tN"ehv Zealand, ,its appreciation of the spirit .prompting his -action in connection with- tlie oiler of a Dreadnought t as a gift from the Dominion to Great " HSritain." Chrktehurch, Thursday Night. 1 The Canterbury branch of the Navy League lias convened a public meeting t in the King .Edward Barracks on the :i lltli instant, for the purpose of subs anitting a motion approving of the Go- > vernment's Dreadnought offer. The , .Mayor is to preside, amd amongst the - speakers will be Bishops Julius and - Grimes. A CHALLENGE TO MR T. E. TAYLOR The "Press" challenges Mr. Taylor to . resign, ills seat and offer himself for retclection on the Dreadnought .issue. It 5 Bays: "Mr. T. E. Taylor denies that e tho meeting last night was 'packed,' and s lin proof of his denial advances the soince |wha-t Hibernian proposition that 'the 0 Iflrst man who went into the hall found '' It empty, and others nwro admitted as ' itliey tame.' Far bo it from us to dis- '• lput(' such a lucid and logical assertion. '• iVVe are assured, however, on trust- '• .'worthy authority that although the hall " 'was announced to be opened at 7 o'clock, e it was more than half-full of people at ilive .minutes to 7, and we should like to 'know whether these consisted of Mr. Taylor's .personal friends and supporters, •- 'and whether the word was passed round t 'to thlein to put in this remarkably early i. (appearance. We deny absolutely that e ithe lo&ig rigmarole submitted to the 1 /meeting in the guise of a resolution r .represents tine opinion cither of the city i- lot Cliristchurcli or of the electors of e C'hristchurch North. If Mr. Taylor dis--1 Iputes this assertion, there is an easy e ! way for-him to put it to the test. Let lull resign his seat and .submit himself s again to the electors, with last night's e .inanifesto, apparently 'concocted by liiml .-elf, 'as the issue to be decided. That . ,is the tribunal 'to which he should subb lm.it himself, not a meeting in a hall t which is half-filled in some mysterious 1 manner at a time when it is officially j declared to bo closed to the public."