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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3145, 24 March 1909, Page 5

Kenna, fought tnroughout for a strong Navy. Many petitions have been presented to the Lord Mayor, asking him to call a meeting to support Mr Asquith's Guildhall declaration. The Sydney newspapers' suggestion that the overseas Dominions should offer Britain a Dreadnought, Mr Fisher's eulogy of the spirit that proposed the offering of an Australian Dreadnought, and ■ the Sydney citizens' splendid offer at Sir Harry Rawson's banquet, are keenly appreciated in England. The Naval question is dominating the Croydon election. Admiral Bowden Smith, interviewed, declared that there was no occasion for hysterics, but the situation is serious. Eight Dreadnoughts were immediately indispensable, and eight vessels of the King Edward the Seventh type, and two of the Nelson type of warships, would be valuable adjuncts to the Navy. For several years past the dock accommodation had been insufficient.

APPRECIATION FROM SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COLONIES.

WELLINGTON, March 23. The Secretary of Statu for the Colonies has cabled to the Governor as follows:—"I should hasten to answer your Prime Minister that his message haa been received by me with the highest appreciation of the generous and spontaneous offer un behalf of New Zealand. It will be laid before His Majesty's Government." The London ".Standard" has cabled to the Prime Minister asking for details of the Dominion's offer and the reason. Sir Joseph Ward has replied:— "You ask me what our offer is, and why we- made it. We offer the Motherland without condition the free gift, as soon as it can be built in British yards, of a first-class battleship. The type is left entirely to the Home authorities. Should later events show any need for it, New Zealand will offer again a second warship of the same class, and the reason is this: We distant sons desire to stand in any peril behind the lion mother of our race, and to the utmost of our resources prove to her and to the world how dear to u-) is Britain's name and greatness. We recognise that Britain's acknowledged supremacy of the seas goes for the maintenance of peace, and that any weakness either in the Homeland or abroad makes what ought to be a dominant position a dangerous one. St -rinces must be made to show competitive nations that though separated by seas we are in reality ons for the preservation of our Empire's greatness." AUSTRALIA AND THE PRESENTATION OF A DREADNOUGHT. RESOLUTION IN FAVOUR. Received March 23, 9.55 p.m. MELBOURNE, March 23. The Chamber of Commerce and Employers' Federation have adopted resolutions in favour of Australia presenting England with a Dreadnought. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT OFFER A DREADNOUGHT. Received April 23, 11.17 p.m. j MELBOURNE, March 23. The Federal Government has definitely decided not to offer a Dreadnought. Mr Fisher made the announcement after a meeting of Cabinet. He added that Cabinet agreed to the action he had already taken, and in spite 6f his previous nebulous statement he never had any intention of adopting the Dreadnought suggestion. Even before the scare broke out he had intimated to Lord Dudley that in the event of emergency the resources of the Commonwealth would be immediately placed at the disposal of Britain. Whether this intimation had been transmitted to the Imperial authorities he did not know. The Imperial Government knew our sympathy was so much with it that it was unnecessary to make any special communication at present. It must be remembered that the presentation of a Dreadnought would not be a policy, but a mere spasmodic action —a spectacular display. The only means to meet any danger of the ■Empire would be by the adoption of a steady, presistent and determined policy for the defence of Australia, combined with a readiness to assist the Mother Country in the event of emergency. It was a matter of indifference to the Government whether the refusal was misunderstood or misinterpreted. DAZZLING EXAMPLE OF LOYALTY. Received March 24, 12.40 a.m. MELBOURNE, March 23. Despite the Federal Government's attitude the proposed gift of a Dreadnought continues to receive enthusiastic public support. New Zealand's action, which haa roused a strong spirit of emulation, is described as a dazzling example of loyalty to British freedom, of splendid

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright,

patriotism, arid far-seeing statesmanship. Received March 24, 1.30 a.m. SYDNEY, March 23. The Lord Mayor has opened a Dreadnought Fund, heading the list himself with a donation of £I,OOO. Mr Anthony Hordern has promised £IO,OOO towards the first Dreadnought, and a further £IO,OOO if a second is required. A leading city club gives £5,000. Altogether over £55,000 has been subscribed or promised within 24 hours.

GERMAN CONSUL'S VIEW'S. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 23. Mr Carl Seegner, Consul for Germany in New Zealand, was interviewed this evening regarding the offer made by the New Zealand Government to provide a battleship. "I know nothing of battleships," he said, "they are not in my line." Pressed to sate his views on the general subject of naval supremacy in the light of recent developments at Home, the German Consul said: "I have seen many 'scares'—Japani ese, Russian, Dutch, Boer, and al kinds of scares—and I have got used to them. Ido not believe," Mr Seegner went on, "that there will be a war between Germany and England in our time." "And what view do you take of ' the suggestion that Germany has designs in connection with the Pacific," Mr Seegner was asked. "Dr Irwin, the German ConsulGeneral in Australia," he replied, "has already stated that the spheres of influence in the Pacific as between Germany and Great Britain' were fixed long ago." Speaking further, Mr Seegner expressed the opinion that the Press of both countries was a great deal to fermenting such scares as at present "In short," he added, "the whole thing is a fuss about nothing." More he would not say, dismissing an inquiry as to his opinion of the action of Cabinet in offering a battleship to the Old Country with a remark to the effect that that was a private matter.