MAGNIFICENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 92, 14 May 1909, Page 4

MAGNIFICENT

NEW ZEAL AMI) AND THE NAVY. I MR BALFOUR'S TRIBUTE. \ GLOWING EULOGY OX TIIE NEW ' ZEALAND OFFER. " NOTHING MORE MOVING." i (N.Z. Times' Correspondent.) London, April 2. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour paid a < line tribute to New Zealand ou'er of Dreadnoughts in his speech this week at a great mass meeting Held at Islington under the auspices of the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations. The meeting was attended by something like ten thousand people, and was one of the greatest ever held in the metropolis, "1 know nothing more moving, more magnilicient," said Mr Balfour, "than the immediate response, the unsolicited response, made by New Zealand (cheers), by that great sister State, to the needs of the country —o£ our own two small islands, from whom all these sister States have spread. New Zealand, you all know—every Englishman, every Scotchman, every Hismuan knows at this moment—that New Zealand uas come forward, when she could only have had a telegraphic summary of what has gone on in the House of Commons, airl oit'ered a Dreadnought to the Empire. (Cries of ''Bravo!" and cheers). Do you realise what the population of New Zealand is ? The population of New Zealand is about the same as five out of the twenty-eight London boroughs which surround this hall. The population of New Zealand is about one-fifth of London's ; it is less than one-fiftieth of Ine United Kingdom's. And tne contribution which New Zealand has offered t« Imperial needs is a contribution which in capital figures would relatively amount to a great deal more than the annual taxation of this country. (Uieers, and a voice, " When are von going to give it preference r") 1 will come to that presently. Every man, I ab not care what his opinions may be, in whose ibreast there beats one pulse of patriotic motive, every man must be deeply moved by this magniiicient exhibition of Imperial sentiment ; and if there lie a man, and I hope there is none, whose tendency is to despair of the future oi the British Empire, to over-rate the gathering difficulties with which we or our cnildren may have to deal, I say learn a lesson of genuine confidence and optimism from what one of the smallest of our sister States has done, learn not to despair of what British patriotism has in its power to do, and what Britran patriotism, when the occasion arises, will most assuredly accomplish, whether it be at the other side- of the world or across the Atlantic or in the two islands which we inhabit. (Cheers). NOT A MERE SUBVENTION.

I have to admit, wmie no words that J can command adequately express the sentiments with which 1 regard this practical self sacrificing tribute to a great .Imperial idea, that I am not so satisfied with the reception which it has met with at the hands of the Government. (Hear, hear.) 1 understand that our sister State ottered this Dreadnought for our immediate need, (ilear, hear.) It has beea rejected from that point of view. (Cries ofShame '') It has been accepted, as 1 understand it, ] more or less conditionally for some sub- j sequent occasion. (Cries of " Shame ").| I do not wish to put that criticism tool high, because 1 do not understand that. New Zealand itself has made it, and it. is not my business or my right to ex-1 plain to the inhabitants of Great Britain 1 precisely what it was that New Zealand had in view ; but on another aspect oi the question 1 speak with more eonlidenee. The Government seem to have taken this Dreadnought as a relief to the British taxpayer—not so much as an addition to the British naval strength as a diminution of the burdens that fall upon the taxpayer in this country ("Shame" ami "That will not do"). 1 do not deny that the taxpayer in this country lias had to pay and' will have to pay in correspondence with tiie Imperial obligations falling upon the Mother Country ; but I do not believe that it w beyond our power to do so. The time, indeed, may come when the relative population and the relative wealth of Great , Britain as compared with the sister States of tlie Empire may have undergone some profound alteration, and wo shall have to look lo them to a degr-e which ti]) to the present time we have.not been obliged to look to them, to help us to carry the great and growing responsibilities of Empire. But in mv opinion that time has not yet come; anil while 1 most gladly ami fovfullv accept every aid which the sister States eft i give, let that aid be given in addition, let it be a super-added precaution (cheers), let it be .something which is to guard against the unknown, the unexpected. the incalculable and unforeseen. Let it not be part of the ordinary provision of ordinary times (cheers') and let us not deal with the splendid patriotic liberality of a relatively small community like that of New Zealand merely as a subvention to our own pecuniary necessities, but let us accept their maguilicicnt oiler as an additional guarantee that whatever happens, whatever come, whatever be the policy of this or that great military country, the supremacy of Great Britain on the seas' shall be undisputed aud indisputable. (Cheers). COLONIAL I'HEEEIiENCE. 1 have but one further observation to make, and that is suggested by an interruption, a courteous inter* ruption, which L think L caught from the gallery opposite, J. think J heard a voice say "What about preference?" (Cheers). Surely that interruption was not an nrevelant one. illere We are acceptiug ; aud joyfully accepting this immense boon, ihiti gift which, compared with the resources of the giver, is of enormous magnitude. We are accepting it, and rightly accepting it, with gratitude. Ar. we going to give anything in return '! (Cheers.) We iind the Government in their reckless li;nincial career making it obviously more ana more impossible, whatever your liscal views may be, to collect the revenue of this country upon' the old lines. More and more plain*y does the necessity show itself for adapting a scheme which, w it good or bad, our fathers had not lo resort to. We siliall have to report to it. (Cheers). Even supposing that you are wrong ami that I am wrong, or those who believe in the expediency of a great Ihcal change I —supposing We are all wrong, be it expedient or inexpedient, it is going to be necessary. (Loud cheers). And if it be expedient, a* 1 believe, if it be necessary, or even tho.«,e who differ from us will soon be forced to admit, then 1 ask'you, are we not out of the now fiscal system, which must be born of our necessiti if it is not to be born of our wishes, are we not out of that liscal change to giv» our colonies which they ask for'! (Cheers.) You are going to accept from New Zealand a gift which in a year amounts lo more per head, of the population of New Zealand than our whole taxation in a year amounts to per head of the inhabitants of the British Islands, and you are going to refuse to New Zealand that which New Zealand, Australia, the Cape, v.anadn. the whole constellation of the sister States have iUskcd steadily, persistently, patiently year by year. You cannot manage an Empire on these lines. (Loud cheers.) NEW ZEALAND'S LEAD. . However dull your imagination, however hidebound your economic theories, there surely are situations which will break through even the most-obstinate ami narrow traditions. And if anyimng could bring home to the countrymen what it is to be the leading State, the leading community, in this great Imperial organisation—l sav if jany'thing could bring home to them the responsibilities which are falling upon them, surely it is New Zealand coming to us in a moment when, by the admission of the Government as well a* by our own contention. a new era of responsibility, a new era of cost, nay. a new era of national peril and responsibility is upon ns, I say when we have the sight of New Zealand coming before us in that crisis with the magnitiricnt generosity which she. has displayed (cheers), is there a man with heart so cold, is there a man of imagination so hidebound ill tradition who does not see thai, putting aside all other and all narrower considerations, the responsibility lies now and henceforth oil every Government controlling this great country to see that we do meet the colonies wherever we can, not by doing what they have never demand-1

ell, namely, sacrilieing our own prosperi-' ty to their own particular views, but by I doing what they have asked, whieh U that, when the time comes, as come it must, whoever is in oil'ice, when we nave vitally and fundamentally to alter th manner in which we raise Uiu taxation of this country, when that time eoiues we shall not only remember taat we an Englishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen—not only remember that we Jive in these two historic islands, but remember also that we are now the cental ox uie huipire of which all the sister States are growing and are destined to grow, and that we have, duties to them as well as to our« selves 7 (Loud cheers).

VIEWS OF OTHER LEADING MlixN. WHAT LORD CREWE SAYS. By a happy coincidence the date fixe 1 for the official opening of ihc splendid new London offices of the Victorian Agent-General was the day on which came the offer of a first-class battleship for the Navy from Victoria and New South Wales. Lord Crewe, the Colonial Secretary, referred to the Australasian offers in lifting terms in his speech at the opening of the Victorian building. He said : The Government and the whole

country have been profoundly touched and moved by the evidence of goodwill, sympathy, and loyalty to the Empire, and whatever may

be the various methods by which the bonds of Empire can be drawn more closely, 1 am quite certain 110 tie could lie closer than that which is founded 011 common sympathy, such as has been shown to us, first by New Zealand, and now by New Eolith Wales and Victoria, ill their noble contribution to the general defence of the Empire.

I'llAlSK FROM LORD STHA'WICONA. Lord Stratheona, lUe veteran High Commissioner for Canada, praises tin spirit of the New Zealand offer, lie Although Canada may not be inclined to follow the example of New Zealand by the gift of a battleship to the Mo'lher Country, there is 110 part of the British Empire which will rejoice more sincerely than Canada at New Zealand's patriotic action. Referring to the loyalty of Canadians, his lordship mentioned the spontaneous and enthusiastic support given by the Dominion during the South African war, and said the spirit which then animate'! the colonists had in no way abated sine", and could be relied 011 ill any emergency, Canada had built and subsidised railways, had been the first colon/ to set 1 the example of preferential trade, and was doing much and expending much money towards the defence of the coasts, both of Vancouver and Halifax, whieli would otherwise become a heavy burden on the Imperial Exchequer. The Dom ion had also provided troops of her own. As yet 110 direct contribution to th" : maintenance of the Imperial Navy was made, but it was impossible to say what might not he done in this direction in the future. The naval and military defence of the Empire was a subject of great interest to all colonists, aim Canada would not bu found behind in taking her share in any burden which might be necessary.

SIR GILBERT PARKEU'IS VIEWS; Sir Gilbert l'arkei, M.P., has given me the following statement of his view of the colonial oilers:— 1 certainly think that these oilers coming from self-governing dominions of the Empire are likely to make Germany and ochtr nations pause to consider their own snip building policy, li thty are to be met by the united efforts of the nations of the British" Empire, they would probably abate their zeal, ma it is hard to tell what ambitious nations will do, and Germany has wide designs and a eokauniing ambition, but we can be prepared for the results which How from it.

SOCIALIST AI'I'KECIATtON, YEKSES IN THE "CLAIUON." The Socialist "Clarion" prints this week the following verses in praise of the Dominion : NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand has offered a Dreadnought to the British Government. More, New Zealand lias sent £llOO to Mr lilatchford to be spend on food for Britain's hungry waifs.

Do we realise it fully 'Way o'er Uie the Great Divide There's a thoughtful little fellow wao will prove his mother's pride ; For he's barely seen tin- message :".M:i was ships short un the sea,*' When he cabled : " Here's a ' Dreadnought,' just a •fleet'-ing gift trom

What is more, he winged a message: " For tiie little ones in need, Here's a cheque for fourteen hundred. .1. Bull, junior, wants a reed,'' O, there's hearts that's true and tender in that far-oil' hemisphere, And we simply wish to thank them—may the wind waft back our cheer ! For we're cheering in our hearts nere a! 1 the chums we do not know, Thirteen thousand miles divide us, yet this sympathy they show ! True, we ought to feel it shame lis, hut our gratitude comes lirst, And the need of hungry kiddies—little waifs with want accursed !

May you never, never see them under neath you sunny sKies ; Yes. we think, somehow, New Zealand, you will rule your land more wise. Some day, sonnie, we'll defy you to Jind hunger in our isles. Then we'll shake hand* proudly, comrade, o'er those thirteen thousand miles.

A "NEW ZEALANDEII SPEAKS. Mr Fell, M.l*., as « New Zeahvuder, speaking in the '* vote of censure" debate in the House of Commons last Monday, referred with gratification ».'• the oiler made by the Dominion as the brightest spot hi the events of the pa*t fortnight. The feeling prompting the people of New Zealand, the desire to give assistance to the Mother Country he fully understood, but it did not seem to him* that the answer of the Prime Minister was framed in the spirit iu which the generous oiler was made. Jt was an oiler of a battleship immediately, it was an oiler to lighten our next year's financial burden, though the .New Zealanders were too proud to attach conditions Comparing population and wealth, the oiler of New Zealand was equal to wvmt a gift of 170 millions from (.Jreat Britain would be. lie trusted no tmther telegram would be sent to damp the ardour of the New Zealanders. The oiler would show to foreign Powers that in building against Cii Vat Britain they wen; not merely threatening these small islauds in Europe, but a world-wide Empir , which their action would do much to consolidate.

MR HERBERT SAMUEL'S TRIBUTE. The New offer of Dread noughts for the British Navy was referred to by Mr Herbert Samuel, M.P., at the meeting of the Captain Cook Memorial Committee this week. Mr Samue after paying a tribute to the greatness of Captain Cook, said the memorial was also a sign that England appreciated the greatness of her Australian and New Zealand colonies and valued very highly the ties that united them to the Empire, lie wondered whether Captain Cook, ■when first hoisting the British Hag on the soil of New Zealand, and later on the soil of New South Wales, ever foresaw that those colonies would present to the Mother Country two great battleships to increase the strength of that navy of which he. was H devoted servant.

! A LIIiinXfSCENOE. ! The hill Mall Gazette recalls the self- : reliant policy in New Zealand in 111 * sixties', Tt .says: " Apropos ,of Now , Zealand's intention to present in with : a couple of Dreadnoughts, she may rei call tlie time, just half a century ago. when it was seriously proposed in tin? i colony that it should' dispense with tin* costly and cumbrous Imperial forces, an 1 trust hi future to the militia and Mao.i auxiliaries. This was known as the selfreliance policy, and. suangest of all, it ■would seem to have heen supported though unintentionally, by General Cameron, leader of the regulavs. Twice lie pitched his camp so close to thick cover that the Maoris dashed out to the attack. But his most astonishing j feat was to take up 57 days in march* i iug 54 miles along the sea coast, ding- j ing to it so tenaciously that the natives] named him the Lanm Seagull. As the) colonists had borrowed C>1.00D,OI)0 to) pay for the war, and were paying C4<) J a year per man for 10,000 Imperial troops, they naturally wanted a heller t return for their money."