THE ADMIRALTY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 23 December 1912, Page 5

THE ADMIRALTY

MB, WINSTON CHURCHILL ATTACKED. BY LORD CHARLES BERESFORD. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) LONDON, December 21. Speaking in the House of Commons, Lord Charles Borest'ord accused lligiit Hon Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, of assuming executive equally with administrative functions. This had been exemplified in tho Sidney street riot, and similarly at. the Admiralty. Mr Winston Chivr--1 chill had interfered and taken charge during tho manoeuvres. Mr Winston Churchill : That is absolutely untrue. No order or instruction was directly or indirectly sent by me! Lord Charles Hereford: "Taking charge" is a naval expre&r' ->n that you probably don't understand. Mr Bonar Law remarked that Sir Francis Bridgeman had interpreted Mr Churchill's first letter as optional to him to resign. He replied that he was well enough to continue service. Then catno Mr Churchill's second, and most insulting letter, intimating that the resignation was already arranged. Mr Winston Churchill read the whole of the correspondence, whereupon Mr Bonar Law remarked: Had I received a letter like the second. T should have considered myself 'brutally ill-used. The subject was then dropped, and th< r > House adjourned till December 30th, the committee of tho Privy Council and the House reserving to itself the right to tho ultimate decision. (Received December 21, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. In the House of Commons, Mr Edward Fif-zrov's motion to "djonrn raised the> question of Sir Francis Bridgeman' s> resignation. Lord Beresford disclaimed any party feeling, or that he was not friendly with Sir Francis Bridgeman, who had objected to Lord Beresford'.s ! creation as an admiral of the fleet. I But there was much feeling in tho Navy over tho matter. Sir Francis Bridgeman, said Lord Beresford, was the fifth Sea Lord whom Mr Churchill had dismissed. Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson, who was also retired from the position of First Sea Lord, received the same sort of 1 insolent letter. Lord Beresford added that Sir Francis Bridgeman was dismissed because he differed on technical matters. Mr Winston Churchill l-eplied that i Lord Beresford did not mean to be jas offensive ag he really was. He was ' an orator who did not know what he ( was going to gay. His gross and >scuri riloug charges were unsupported' by any evidence. Sir Francis Bridgeman had given his written assent to ev- • ery act of tho naval policy requiring it. His health was quite unequal to +.l»o awn in of ,ar« p.ttp.ck of bronchitis. Mr Churchill paid he accordingly consulted tho Premier (Mr Asquith) and the King. /

PRESS OPINIONS. j MS. WINSTON CHURCHILL COMMENDED. (Received Last Night, 0.0 o'clock.) LONDON, December 21. The Times declares that Mr Winston Churchill',* frank statement in regard to tho rose of Sir Franclp Bridgoman should prove conclusive. The subject, it snys, has been ovet;]aid with prejudice. and confuted by all sorts of unworthy insinuations. Tho Daily Mail states that Mr j Churchill's speech dissipated -suspicions, and dealt vigorously with Lord Charles Bemsford'.s insinuations, which must be attributed to the imagination of one who had suffered . disappointment, rather than to a real j knowledge of the facts. i Man- newspanertt. consider that Mr ; Churchill lias had the bast of the duel, and that his actions in the matter have boon fully justified. not only free school-books, but free stationery should be provided, if possible. 8. • I would not favour an interference) with the present free, secular and compulsory system of education, until the people show by a referendum that they desire it. A referendum could he taken 011 this, 01* any matter, at little expense, when the censuy is taken. 9. Better inducements should be offered young men to enter the teaching profession, and, if returned, I would a.sk the to urge on the Government the necessity of making the profession more attractive. 10. The-medical inspection of school children should not.be confined to the . larger centres, hut should be made general. Similarly, the work of the newly-appointed instructor in physical should extend to every school. j 11. T would urge that the classes I for teachers should be held in differI ent centres, so that no particular centre should have an advantage over another; and T would also support establishing examination, centres for scholarships at each end, as well as in the centre of the district, so that they would be readily accessible to scholars from all parts. To conclude, if you do ine the honour of electing me, I .shall .strive to serve the whole district, and. will place the interests of no one part over those -of another. I would give my prompt attention to letters from any committee, and hope to visit eaeh school, large and small, and ascertain its requirements. Ido not stand for parochialism, but am out to do my hest for all parts of the district."