THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3149, 29 March 1909, Page 5

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

CABLE NEWS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER. "AN UGLY SUSPICION." MR /ASQUITH ACCUSED OF FENCING. A WARNING. LONDON, March 26, The "Pall Mall Gazette" declares that Mr Asquith's method of fencing with New Zealand's offer has raised an ugly suspicion that while seeming to welcome it he is really mocking it and evading its purpose. "New Zealand," says the "Gazette," "never intended to replace a vessel which would otherwise have been built by the British taxpayers. It New Zealand's generosity is merely employed to further the aims of the 'Little Navy', party, bitter indignation will be provoked." Mr Keir Hardie, Labour M.P., speaking at South Nor.thwood, declared that the Labour party considers the colonial offers to assist the Navy an insult to the greatness and majesty of the Mother Country. There way, he said, no foundation for the miserable scare.

Some German newspapers admit that the action of the Reichstag in voting the Naval Estimates without debate was meant as a warning to foreign countries of German inflexibility. Labour members of the House of Commons have decided to vote against the censure motion provided Cabinet on Monday announces that it will not go beyond Mr Asquith's present positon regarding warship construction. AUSTRALIA'S NAVY SUBSIDY. SUGGESTED INCREASE. SYDNEY, March 27. The State Premier, Mr Wade, has telegraphed to the other State Pre miers that he considers the Dreadnought scheme inappropriate, and suggesting, instead, that the States should combine and increase the naval subsidy to half a million. The Lord Mayor's appeal for a Dreadnought Fund says:—"The fact stands out that the Empire is already weighted by the cost of defence maintenance, and must face a largely increased expenditure to maintain her present impregnable position. Her eons must assist. New Zealand has nobly led the way." MEETING AT PERTH. WJLD SCENES OF DISORDER. PERTH, March 27. The Mayor presided over a packed meeting in the Town Hall. Sir John Forrest moved a motion, asking the Federal Government to inform the Home authorities that the people of Australia were prepared to make every necesary sacrifice to maintain the supremacy of the sea. Th 3 moving of an amendment on behalf of the Australian Natives' Association, to the effect that any necessary sacrifice should take the shape of increased expenditure on local defence, led to great disorder. The Mayor, amid a wild scene of commotion, declared Sir John Forrest's motion carried. The movers of the amendment afterwards held an open-air meeting, and adopted a motion protesting against the Mayor's ruling, and claiming that the amendment had been carried by a majority of three to one. THE CENSURE MOTION. . Received March 28, 4.25 p.m. LONDON, March 27. Mr A. J. Balfour, in a letter, explains that the vote of censure is the only course open, as by the rules of debate it was only possible to move to reduce the estimates.