"BLUFF" AT THE BLUFF

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10476, 13 November 1911, Page 5

"BLUFF" AT THE BLUFF

THE PREMIER TALKS DEFENCE.

ANOTHER HERRING

By Teleoravh—Press a lunation

INVERCABGILL. Last Niglit

Sir Joseph Ward wont to the Bluff on Saturday, and there received a cordial reception from the Mayor and citizens, Mrs Nichol (wife of the Mayor) presenting a bouquet to Lady Ward. During the afternoon the ladies of the Bluff gave a reception to Lady Ward,.and in the evening the Premier addressed about seven hundred people, and was very warmly received. Th e Mayo r p rosid ?d. DEFENCE. Mo,t of Sir Joseph Ward's speech covered old! ground, but on the question of defence lie touched new matter. He contradicted a statement that the Defence Department' was compelling hoys and cadets to go into camp with men. This was worse than untrue, because the Opposition knew that under the Territorial system the Cadets were not uv.dor the jurisdiction of the Defence Department, but controlled by the Education authorities. Their own teachers were their officers. It had also been said that senior Cadets (15 to 18) should not be .allowed to go into camp with men.. The proposal to have boys go into* camp was not contemplated by the Bill. These statements were a colossal attempt to snatch votes from the mothers of boys. In declaring against boys going into oamp, they were saying that the Prime Minister should prevent something that was never meant to be done. The defence system had .been supported by every member of the Opposition, and by Trades and Labour Councils, and was the law of the Dominion. Why had no member of the Opposition published a line in support of it? It was because they believed that a small section was against, it. It was a question which should be placed above party tactics, and wherever he went he would call attention to men who were sheltering under the cover of the pre-arranged silence.

THE DREADNOUGHT. Referring to the Dreadnought, the Premier spoke of Mr Massey's assertions concerning the autocratic nature of his (Sir Joseph Ward's) doing. There were 60 or 70 Opposition candidates saying at present that he ought to be put out of office on account of his action regarding the Dreadnouglit. He had consulted ( Parliament' and his colleagues, and the presentation of the Dreadnought had been made subject to ratification by Parliament. The Opposition now stated that they objeced to the way in which the proposal had been made, and that i;he honour and prestige of the country would have been jeopardised if they had voted against it. Sir Joseph Ward declared that every member of Parliament could have voted against it, without the loss of prestige, to the country, had they so desired, because he had left the way open. Members of the Opposition had voted for the proposal because, in their own minds, they knew what a grand thing it was for the country and the Empire, and wanted to have a share in the kudos of passing it. If the proposal had not been made until Parliament sat, the effect Vould have been lost. Being made when it was, it camsed other nations to realise that for the first time in the history of Great Britain the dominions beyond' the seas were knit firmly with the Motherland.

APPEAL TO LABOUR. i He reminded the workers that the Labour Government of Australia had established universal military. , training, and had decided to build a fleet of it« own. An expert had estimated that the capital cost of the navy would be twenty or thirty millions, and internal-defence should cost two millions a year. If the Labour Government of Australia had done that, ought not New Zealand to be willing to pay £400,000 a year for internal defence and £150,000 a year for naval ? By reason of its greater number of harbours, the coast line of New Zealand was more vulnerable 'than that of Australia.

THE CHINESE SPECTRE. The Premier went on to speak of the proximity, of Australia and New Zealand to China; of the awakening in that country; of the imminent danger of the "Yellow Peril." The Pacific squadron had been recalled to Home waters, and the shadow of a coloured nation was looming over our country, and if we were not xeasoniaibly equipped, within our own Borders, and had not the protection of -Hie British Navy, we #ould find ourselves at the mercy of China, which had been equipping during the last £ett years, and was expected by the authorities to be within the next ten years even greater than Japan. Would anyone contend that if China were as wellequipped as Japan there was no danger to New Zealand? It was the bounden duty of every man in the Dominion to be as well trained as the trained men who were likely to come and attempt to take our oounfery from us. To-day in New Zealand there was the purest race in the world. This was admitted, and it was owing to the istrict laws that were in force with regard,to the immigration of aliens. Would they have it said that in the event of trouble arising, ten men in a street would volunteer for active service while 20 men in the same street would refuse to do anything of tEe kind? This would mean that the .brand of "coward" would be stamped on the foreheads the people, of New Zealand. He did not believe that there was a man in the country who would like this to be said. There were men who believed that a great danger was imminent, and that it was worth while doing'a little towards the protection of the future of what was regarded as the white race —the Maoris and the white people of New Zealand. To establish a New Zealand navy was financially impracticable for a country of a. million people. Every vessel in the British navy was at the service of

New Zealand in. time of trouble, and we were doing very little for its support. Everyone desired that peace should be perpetuated, and in another generation the spread of education might faring this about. In the meantime, to preserve the peace of the world (and the Empire) the British nation must: lead in armaments and navy. AN APPEAL. The question, of defence was above party, and he appealed to the people ■ to give the present defence sche'me a fair trial. Only 30,000 men were required under the system in'operation. None of them were over 21 years of age except the members of the old volunteer companies, who had been transferred.to the Territorials. "Give the system a year of two of trial," he said, "and then the system could be i reviewed and anomalies and- incongruities removed." Political -party passion should not be introduced. A vote'of thanks and confidence was accorded the Premier.