THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13410, 30 April 1909, Page 8

THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PKEBB.") DUNEDIN, April 29. Sir Joseph Ward travelled by motor-car fiom Dunedin to the Taie.ri this morning for the purpose of inspecting the different drainage areas on the plain, in connection with which some dissatisfaction prevails among farmers in regard to classification of their lands for rating purposes. In reply to tho welcome accorded him, the Prime Minister said, on the question of the Dreadnought offer, he was ploased to hoar the Mayor say that the action of the Cabinet was appreciated. Later on, in that arena "whore the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest," ho proposed to place before Parliamentarians the reasons of the Government for making the offer. He had no hesitation in believing that tho people's opinion on the matter would prove to bo one of endorsement. The best interests of our country lay in assisting the Empire in maintaining absolute supremacy. In matters of this kind it was essential, as a practical community, to look at the capacities of the country in order to see whether it could stand the expense that was involved in carrying out a comprehensive scheme of defence! If New Zealand had a population of ten million people, things would be very different, but he ventured to express the opinion that he would be able to submit to his colleagues a scheme which would receive general endorsement. /