THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1913. ENGLISH AND GERMAN NAVIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 28 March 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1913. ENGLISH AND GERMAN NAVIES.

, Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, the Imperial Secretary for the German Navy, is reported to have made an interesting statement to the Budget Committee of the Reich,stag. He closely examined, we are told, Mr Churchill's utterances of last, March, to the effect that, "a ratio of ten to sixteen . between the German Battle Fleet and the English Battle Fleet is acceptable for the nevt few years," and he went on to say that "lie, for his part, took the point of view that he, too, as head of his department, would have no objections at all to raise against this." Apparently (says the London Times), these remarks were made after Herr von Jagow, the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had dwelt upon the fact that German's relations are good with all Powers, and particularly with this country. We do not hesitate to welcome theso statements. Obviously they are animated by a. spirit which is friendly and rea-sonable towards us. They may even indicate that a considerable advance may have been made in responsible Germa.n quarters towards a better understanding of British naval supremacy. Whether they are much more than the general intimation of a desire to consider the relations of the naval strength of the two countries in a cool and imp re juddced temper'remains to be seen, j We trust that it may be so; but we have not the n.,aterials on which to found even a provisional judgment. Wo ihavo not even the text of the ■speeches or of the "confidential discunsirtrr-' which followed tbemC The proceedings /if the Comimmittee, our readers need hardly be reminded, take place in. private, and we have in this instance only the report issueJ by the semi-official telegraph Agency to rely upon. But even the fullest and imofft authentic reproduction of tiie actual words .'used 'by the Secretaries for

Foreign Affairs .and for tho >" t hou Id not con rstituto tt valid - V ", for framing tho naval polic roai i l Viirysng tho naval plan# A ™ Britain. These kro lxu= A , ~ must continue to bo ! , ' ie ® tho woaxlbol' others s ~ 1 , , U ' K ' U ~ . ~ .-Or titio statements of mtmtum tl.oy ,„ al<> tho F „ hioh Xer coun n<w a aJu j y Je aotuai steps ,V 11 1 <y to Imild under thiwo pi oi-» rr _„rmnoH. The Fin>t Lord made 1 very cleair When h® brought in t«he Estimates last March. Ho stated that our I.)read'iought construction would !>o determined by German Inroad nought construction whether by vv.iy of acceleration or, within certain limits, by way of red*tiction or retardation ; but that in ■either alternative, wo Khould and see," before wo acted. If, then. Germany arts in the direction which those KpeecJiOs appear to suggest, and wlion slio (hi acts, we shall. of course, be delighted' to act likewise, subject to the qualifications laid down by tho First Lord. We cannot, however, read into tho word« said to have been used in tho Reichstag Committee a binding acceptance of Mr. Churchill's offer that, if Germany would not increase her construction, we would not' increase ours—an offer accompanied by the frank declaration that i.f she did increase hois, wo should increase ours, and increase it in a higher ratio. The speeches before the Committee may be intended to lead up to such an acceptance. We hope that they are. But our Berlin Correspondent is doubtless right -when he ®fifirm s that not only has 110 agreement l>een made upon this subject but no negotiations for an. agreement have been begun. The truth is that neither England nor Germany «m absolutely iind permanently tie their hands in regard to the development of their navies. They cannot go beyond the bind of understanding on which Mr. Churchill wa<s ready to enter last yea-r. Should it happily prove to be the case that Germany is now willing to accept such an understanding, this country will heartily welcome her decision. The growth of friendly relations l>etween u.s, which the cordial two Government « the last fe,v mont | lß hag {]nno so much to foster, should enable both srsr^- 00 - navai M thi » fM f <;te ' ness *»* the suspicion filed W« policy i« kno\ra and costs' ™ 9an matmtaiii at all ■ ste that supremacy at sea which is ■to fL ttS V t he - mean to heln us to mamtain it. This thev nu-e !y denmnst.-a.tcd since the i cations 0 jman Navies were last discussed.

THE RESIDENTIAL CLAUSE. The Wellington Land Board had before it yesterday » case in which a Ma.stert.on resident, with a family id occupations in the town, asked for exemption from the residential clauses ot tlie Land Act. The case is one of m-any hundreds that conie before the Land Board annually, and opens up a very wide field for discussion. There is ma.ny a man residing 111 a centre .vho would be glad of a section of land that 'he might prepare a liome for his growing famjily. He is not permitted, under the law as it now stands, to acquire a section and pay for the improvements put upon it. And the chances are that when his family comes to mature aj;e t'ho.re will not an acre of Crown land availoble in the country. One would think that the State should he satisfied so long: as the rent is paid, the land occupied, and the necessary improvements effected. On the other hand, there is a, danerer, if the residential clauses are relaxed, of a system of absentee landlordism growing up in the Dominium. The whole question is surrounded with difficulties, and time alone can offer a solution.