The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1913. OUR DREADNOUGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 224, 10 February 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1913. OUR DREADNOUGHT.

Now that the Dreadnought presented by tlii! late (lovernment has become an actual tact there lias been a singular revulsion of feeling on the part of those who, at the time, were opposed to the donation, and even the then members of the Opposition who, while endorsing the fiift, expressed their disapprobation of the manner of it, are posing in the limelight to eatch some of the bouquets that are being thrown at the Dominion by Hie English Press. We can forgive them this, for, after all, it is only characteristic of the average politeian. lint the battleship given purely in a spirit of patriotic devotion to the Motherland, and with no ulterior object, has tinned

out. speaking in a spirit of pure commercialism. the very best expenditure the country has ever made. It has

awakened the most immense enthusiasm in the Hid World, and even should if he relegated to the scrap-heap in a fewyears' time the moral effect of its building and the spontaneity of its offering will have more than justified the expenditure of £2,1)00.000 of money. It has shown (he concert of Europe jliat the oversea dependencies of Ureal Ifri-

tain lire not going to si( quiet, and see their mother relegated to the almshouse so long as (hey have a pocket fill of r.:on<'v to come to her assistance with,

and that they do not intend to see the supremacy of the sea wrested from Britain without at least giving lier antagonists "a run for it." The incident has simply pointed the moral of the Boer | War and adorned its most emphatic, tale. We have been the recipients of the warmest appreciation of English public men and of the British Press, hut there is 110 need for us to get "swelled heads" at the compliments that are being showered on us. The country simply did its duty at a time when that duty was fairly obvious, and if incidentally we have secured an admirable advertisement and have led other parts of the Kmpire to follow the example of the Dominion we can only regard this as a fortuitous return for the foresight of Sir Joseph Ward, a statesman who stands in the very forefront in Imperial politics. The little jealousy that has been displayed by Australia and the suggestion that the whole affair has been admirably stagemanaged are somewhat 'ungenerous on the part of our cousins overseas. • Our Dtyradnouglit was not given in any

jingoistic spirit or with a view to self-aggrandisement, but simply because it was realised that the moment was opportune for a daughter of the Empire to come to the mother's help. The farreaching effects of the gift were never dreamed of at the time that it was made, and there is no need for the other members of the family to grudge the little

rellccted glory that has come to

the Dominions as the result of her ready spontaneity. f We are just * as- quick to apprecite the sturdy patriotism and whole-heartcdness of loyalty of our sister dependencies, and the occasion is not one for any heartburnings whatever. We have simply given to the world a hint of the advisability of peace, and we are only too pleased that even broader' hints have followed from Australia, Canada and India.