OUR FIGHTING SHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 82, 7 April 1913, Page 5

OUR FIGHTING SHIP.

A MELBOURNE WELCOME.

MISSION.

SOLIDARITY OF THE EMPIRE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, April 6. A large and enthusiastic gathering, including the Governor-General (Lord Denman) and many public men and distinguished naval and military officers, attended the dinner tendered by the Commonwealth Government last night to Captain Halsoy and the Officers of H.M.S. New Zealand. The Acting-Min-ister for Defence (Mr. W. M. (Hughes) presided.

Lord Dcnman expressed his pleasure at -welcoming the guests. The only regret, he said, was that their visit was co short. He would have liked the officers and men to have had time to visit the inland towns, and also for the New Zealand to have visited the other Australian ports. After quoting the remarks of Senator Pearce (Federal Minister for Defence) on the all-importance of naval defence, Lord Denman added that, judging by the utterances of her public men, Australia was ready to use her ships to co-operate with the Mother Country whenever and whatever danger threatened. FINE IMPERIAL SPIRIT. The Governor-Central went on to say that he was quite sure no one in Australia could question the patriotism or the iinc imperial spirit which prompted New Zealand to contribute such a fine ship to thn Empire. She was a model of up-to-date naval construction, and was fortunate in her officers. They were undertaking an Imperial mission in steaming across the -world to show what the loyal Dominions were doing. He hoped they would survive the good time | mapped out for them in Xew Zealand, j The chairman proposed, "The Ne\v Zealand," coupled with the name of Captain Halsey. Australia, he said, welcomed those aboard as kinsmen and as missioners in a very great and dreadful purpose of a new era—an era which he and every right-thinking man regretted. Sensible men, however, could not, and would not, close their eyes to the conditions which menaced and threatened to destroy tbem. They -would be doubly stupid if they did not recognise the position, and if they were not prepared. In any situation that might arise they would have to take an active part in the defence of the Empire. They need not fear criticism as to what Australia was doing, or offer any as to -what New Zealand wae doing. The world was looking on, and making a note of what was being done. Xew Zealand, Australia, and Canada had taught the whole world a lesson. If anything would make for peace that would.

TREMENDOUS MORAL EFFECT.

Captain Halscj-. in replying to the toast of the guests, said that the generosity of New Zealand in presenting such a. ship as the New Zealand had had a tremendous moral effect on the strength and solidarity of the Empire.

Mr. Tudor (Federal Minister for Custome) proposed "The Dominion of New Zealand," coupling with it the name of Mr. F. M. B. Fisher (Xcw Zealand Minister for Customs). He expressed a wish that conferences between Australia and New Zealand would result in a reciprocal arrangement. Mr. Fisher, in reply, said that one of the finest Imperialistic messages ever delivered was that given 'by the Prime Minister when he eaid that the Dominions of the Southern Hemisphere might 'be relied on to give their last man, their last sun, and their last sovereign. With that sentiment New Zealand was in entire accord. He did not believe in spasmodic contributions. The people should permit them to be both substantial and reliable. The New Zealand was not the gift of tie Government to which he belonged, but of their predecessors in office, but his Government made no concessions to those predecessors in the question of Imperialism. They were prepared to do all that was asked or might be required of them. Any lnatters of defence concerning Australians also concerned New Zealanders, and they must ultimately be united for the purpose of common defence. (Loud cheers.) NEW ZEALAND'S GENEROSITY. In dealing with the question of reciprocity, Mr. Fisher said New Zealand wanted the Commonwealth to treat them as brothers, as units of the came Empire. If he could go back having done something towards cementing the friendship of the two countries, he would feel that he had played a little part in the consummation of a good work. He only wanted Australia to deal as generously with Xew Zealand as the latter was prepared to deal with Australia. Mr Hughes said that he was a member o*f a party which dearly loved peace, but the day when this could be secured was not yet. '-Therefore," he added, «th;e oulv thing to do, and we are doing it, is to "prepare for war. Neither the Commonwealth nor New Zealand is relying on the brotherhood of man, which, I am afraid, would be about as valuable as a silk umbrella would be to protect us from schrapnel. We have to take an active part in the defence of the Empire.-' DOMINIONS IN THE SCALE.

Captab Halsey declared that when in the future any foreign nation came up to weigh England's chance of defending herself? the Dominions would have to go into the scale, and they would carry down the whole weight and cause the foreigner to think better of it.

Mr. F. M. B. Fisher said the Empire could not expect for one moment to hold what it already had without a common effort on tho part of the Empire to make itself so impregnable that war would be so fearsome a thing that the enemy would not attempt it.

Touching on reciprocity, he declared that he had come over to do something which.should be delightful to the Commonwealth, io form a trades union.

Mr. Hughes, responding to the toast of the chairain.li. said tho balance of the world was shifting, r.nd when- tho Panama Canal was opened it. might be thst tli , . , r.quilihriiim would be so'upset that in the Pacific tho decisive battle of Empire would: be fought. If so. a wide field iudeed was open to them, perhaps too wide for the present peoples, but not too wide for potential possibilities of Canada, Ausi tralia, and New Zealand,

LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST. Some comment has been occasioned by the lack of public interest in the visit of the 'battleship New Zealand. One explanation put forward is that it is proIn a letter published in the "Argus," and signed "Australian," the writer says:—"Like many other Victorians I have been watching for a proposal to suitably entertain the crew of the New Zealand, but no notice appears to be taken of our guests, apart from the officers. When one thinke of the royal manner in which the American squadron was entertained, it makes one disgusted to think of the cool treatment accorded to the ship provided by our sister Dominion."