THE NAVAL SITUATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 71, 20 April 1909, Page 2

THE NAVAL SITUATION

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. AX JMI'ERTaTc'OXI'ERE'ncE .SUGGESTED. a , . London, April IS, Nicking at Glasgow, Mr. Asmii I, I're.uier, characterised tae Cawdor,,,,!: luoraniliini as an elcctioneerhi'. namnhlet am' said that had liberals" iSede «'» Us lines they would have been i„ possession of an unnecessary number of backward specimens of ships i„ „ eons untly progressive family of vessels ol he Xepune's class, which were SO per ein. better than the original JJro.rlJlOllglit. "At this moment," continued the I miner, " «•<• may be on the eve ol a iicn- development in naval construction which may vitally affect our naval policy, hence it is undesirable to order contingent Dreadnoughts immediately. The sole issue 'be'.ween the critics and' ourselves is whether we should bind o„ r . selves to order extra vessels at once or leave the question to be determined m n later year.'' The magailieeut colonial offers, enhanced by a line generous spirit, which made nothing more gracious, were tactful, and, indicated a more generous patriotic' coneertion of the common obligations 0 f the Empire. Speaking without consultation with his colleagues he suggested me pOssilulity of a conference between the colonies and the Mother countrv regarding the future respective shares in the great interdependent work of naval defence. AI'SiTUAUA AND THE XAVAL CRISIS. I'TIE GOVERXMEXT'S ATTITUDE. Received 2l>, <US a.m. Melbourne, April 10. The Federal Prime Minister expects "hen the House meets that he will he challenged over the Dreadnought position. The Postmaster-General pnbliclv stated that if the Government is defeated, it will apply for a dissolution.