UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 905, 2 April 1908, Page 4

UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET.

An effort is being made to secure a visit of the United States Pacific Fleet to Wellington, as the seat of Government and the central pore of the dominion. That effort will, doubtless, have the support of the bulk of the people of New Zealand who are within easy railway or stsamboat reach of the capital. Auckland is practically out of touch with all the southern portions of New Zealand, and although thousands of people would make an effort to reach the northern city to view the marine pageant and welcome our American cousins to our shores, an enormous percentage of the population would be barred by considerations of time and distance from viewing a spectacle and taking part in a demonstration which will become historic. The movement, therefore, to secure a visit of the fleet to Wellington is one worthy of encouragement, because there are no important parts of the dominion south of the Auckland province that are not within twenty-four hours' touch of the city. Auckland's jealousy has already been aroused by the proposal, and she is plaintively appealing to the Government not to deprive her of what she considers her just due under the circumstances. So far as we can gather, there is no desire to do so, but if the United States Navy Department thinks that it would be better to send the fleet to the chief and best harbour of the dominion, i and so gratify the desire of the greatest number of New Zealanders, Auckland should patriotically and cheerfully acquiesce. It is, however, quite possible that the fleet may be permitted to call at both ports, but if not it is pretty certain Auckland will have the honour of welcoming the guests. We are pleased to note that the Mayor of Masterton is moving in the matter of urging the Government to ask the United States Navy Department to sanction the visit of the fleet to Well'ngton. The people residing between New Plymouth and Napier in the north, and Dunedin and Westland in the south, would then have an opportunity of welcoming the visitors. If all the other municipalities take action similar to that of our Mayor, it would be an incentive to the Government to press the matter more urgently upon the United States Naval authorities than it might otherwise be inclined to do.