THE TIN-CAN NAVY AND THE REFORM PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 185, 4 February 1914, Page 6

THE TIN-CAN NAVY AND THE REFORM PARTY.

I To the J-Mitor. | Sir, —Taking into consideration llic •promises of candidates supporting the | Reform Party during the last election ;.U to proposals to cut down expenditure, abolish tlifi co-opera-tirc works principle, inaugurate a.'bettor system of allocating grants to the dill'erent district.-, qmtiatq a faster system of electoral rt•presentation, etc., all of which have•been *hown to be simply •'moonshine." how will the proposal of the Massey Government to go in for a "toy navy,'' whereby the expenditure on defence will toe increased to a very large extent, do other than add to the almost unbearable cost of living which we at present have •to submit to? If .during last year we expended E503.-2(57 on defence (an ii:srease on the estimate of £:>:),81W and Cin:i;!!i7 over the previous year) it i is safe to assume that this session's estimate for the inn-rant year of :£"i05,0i7 will likewise he exceeded. If the cost of the toy navy—construction and upkeep—i*. as given bv (he experts, to he £400,000 for building and £150,000 for upkeep, (hen in a couple of years we •shall lie contributing over a million of money. J low does the proposal or the .prospect suit Mr. Tamnarimui Wilson, the biicjkblock advocate, wkose electorale is crippled for the want of roads, and who supports the party that p»o----miscd all sorts of reform that would •benefit the small farmers in that district, but who were told to wait because of funds, etc. Xotwithstandiug the urgent, need for money under the •Advances Act for improvements; notwithstanding' the need for money for road.s and bridges, for railway construction to cope with lh« cnoniisuis trallic over many county roads, the Pure A.tlimiisliation Tarty (headed by W. Massey. Ksi|.. P.C., but run by the big landholders. tlic shark and tlio yralia 1.1 big merchant) proposes to incn-use our burtfcm to the extent as state:!! And the fufiner -everything conies from the land—is he agreualile t-liat his industry is to lie further hampered by the proposal (to provide the means for the favored ones of the big purse (o act, tiiw dandy as members of au egg-shell navy that- ('{in only be ,i defence ill name? ■Surely the ratepayers will not bank up such a wilful wnste of money? They must know that one small battleship ■and a submarine or two will lie of ainueh use in -defending Xew Zealand es a tin-can is in stopping a bullet:, and it would be Well for them to shake themselves up and demand a full explanation from their representatives as to the proposal if given ell'eet to. will still luave us entirely dependent on H.l England, to whom a contribution of half n million a year would be a better method than that proposed, because ift would be that amount and no more, 'out the Reform scheme means untold expenditure in tke long run. Watch it. Mr. Farmer, watch it! It. concerns you deeply.—l am, etc.,

Jt>K 11. SIMPSON". Durham Uoad.