The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1913. VISIT OF THE DREADNOUGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 293, 3 May 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1913. VISIT OF THE DREADNOUGHT.

It is satisfactory to note that a move has already been made in regard to making arrangements for the forthcoming visit of the Dreadnought to New Plymouth. In reply to representations by the Member for Egmont (Mr. C. E. Wilkinson), the Acting-Minister for Marine has agreed to ask the Minister for Railways to run excursion trains from Hawera on the day previous to the visit, namely, on June 17. But we would I like to see the Railway Department do | more, and that is to fall in with the suggestion that has been put before it by | the local Expansion and Tourist League I to make the tickets available for return up to a week from the day of issue. This would prove a great convenience to hundreds of country folk who, through the exigencies of their occupations are unable to spare time for a few days' holiday at any other period of the year, and would certainly be of advantage to the | Department itself, for it is probable that j were this concession made a great many I more people would make the trip tlian otherwise would be the caße, As ft pUee to spend a few days' relaxation, there are few centres in the Dominion which offer the attractions and advantages that New Plymouth can, and with the visit of the great battleship as an additional inducement, the town would, were the Department to grant the concession, probably be full for the week. Nothing yet has been done regarding the entertainment of the officers and men of the warship when they reach here, excepting that the Taranaki Football Association has invited the warship's eleven to a game of football, an invitation which, we are glad to learn, the captain has been pleased to accept. From the reply sent to the Football Association it seems that the landing party from the warship will number about 300. Steps should be taken to entertain the party in some form or other. Most, places are holding sports in the seamen's honor, and there is no reason why something of the kind should not be provided here. We have the facilities, and there should be no dearth of willing workers. No doubt the seamen themselves would take a hand in the programme, as they have been pleased to do in other places. Then there are the arrangements for the visit of the children of the province to the warship. The stay of the vessel at Moturoa is all too brief, and it will perhaps be difficult to arrange for most of the people of the province, who we hope and believe "will be here on this unique • and history-making occasion, to board and inspect the leviathan. But whoever suffers, the children must not be overlooked. These matters have to be taken in hand and carefully planned beforehand. Then there are the Maoris to consider. EverywheYe else the natives have taken 110 insignificant part in the welcomes extended to H.M.S. New Zealand, and, in this, one of the most historical parts of the Dominion., we cannot allow the opportunity to pass without giving our distinguished visitors some tangible evidence of the harmony that exists between the two races that but fifty years ago were fighting desperately ' for possession of what is one of the most fertile portions of His Majesty's Dominions, and the regard the Maori race now bear for their King and country, a King and a country which, though primarily theirs by adoption, have grown to be just as dear and as sacred to them, in their simple, whole-hearted loyalty, as it is to ourselves. It is time the town bestirred itself in connection with these arrangements, and, if thought necessary, invited the rest of the province to share in them. We understand the Expansion and Tourist League are giving attention to the whole scheme, but it is one which affects the Borough Council and all the public bodies of the district; and we trust steps will at once be taken to arrange a comprehensive programme for ''Dreadnought" Day.

simply cause them to redouble their efforts. This is practically tantamount to a declaration of civil war under the most extraordinary conditions that have ever prevailed in history. The Govern- j ment intends to prosecute every suffra- j gette and suffragist who makes a speech S inciting to violence, or disparaging the Crown, to suppress the publication of literature dealing in a similnr manner with the franchise question, to prevent the newspapers from publishing provo- . cative communications upon the subject, and generally to stamp out the objectionable practices that have prevailed in the Motherland for more than a year past. Tennyson's dictum that "the woman's cause is man's," is admitted in all civilised communities, but the methods of the suffragettes at Home are not calculated to endorse the sentiment. Attacks upon life and limb, outrages upon property, and the promiscuous annoyance and vexation of people who are, in many instances, supporters of the extension of the franchise to women, are not calculated in any way to help forward the women's movement towards enfranchisement. We do n ot for one moment believe that the militant attitude represents the opinion of anything ,but a small minority of British women, and it is the very fact that the majority of the sex at Home, whatever their political opinions, have dissociated themselves from the movement that leads to the conviction that the Government will be warmly supported in its attitude by the country. The offending suffragettes have been treated with far too great consideration and leniency in the past, and they have made it apparent that only the severest repressive measures will stop a plan of campaign that threaten - to end in a disastrous tragedy. Tlr have only themselves to blame it tl." are treated to a strong dose of t;:e medicine they have been administering to an unoffending public.