GIFT BATTLESHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 471, 1 April 1909, Page 7

GIFT BATTLESHIPS.

"NOT A POLICY AT ALL." MR. FISHER'S LOCAL NAVY PLAN. A DESTROYER FLOTILLA-COMPULSORY TRAINING. <MC TKI.P.G R APII—PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPTItIGIIT.) Brisbano, March 31. In his policy speech at Gvnipie, referring to defcnco matters, the Federal Prime Minister, Sir. Fisher, said the compulsory training scheme proposes that the cadots shall begin training at ten years of ago, and go on till they aro twenty-one. The scheme will entail an initial outlay of £580,000. Tho cost for tho first year will bo £1,200,000, and it will reach a maximum of £1,4.07,000 in the sixth year. Tho naval scheme proposes, in addition to tho three destroyers already ordered, four ocean-going destroyers and sixtoen river class destroyers. Mr. Fisher said ho estimated that naval construction would cost £650,000 in tho first year, £380,000 in tho sccond, nnd £734,000 in tho third. Tho cost of maintenance would bo £IGS,OOO for tho first year, and £236,000 for tho next. Mr. Fisher declared' that the scheme to present a Dreadnought to Britain was not a policy at all, and tho Government could not havo justified itself if it had yielded to popular clamour, because he believed it was on wrong lines.

BANKS OFFER COMMONWEALTH MONEY.

1 IT IS DECLINED. ' (Rec. April 1, 0.45 a.m.) Sydney, March 31. It transpires that the banks of Nov South Wales and the Commercial Bankinj Company offered Mr. Fisher a loan of twi millions at 3£ per cent, to purchase a Dread nought, but the offer was declined. AN OFFER BY TWO STATES WILL FIND THEIR, PROPORTION OF COST. QUEENSLAND DISSENTS. ATTITUDE OF STATE PREMIERS. Sydney, March 31. Mr. Wado (Premier of New South Wales telegraphed to Mr. Fisher that in the eve.nl of tho Commonwealth not agreeing to in crease tho naval subsidy, but deciding to present a Dreadnought to* Britain, Now Soutl Wales and Victoria wero prepared to fine their proportion of tho cost on a iwpulatior basis. Mr. Kidston, Premier of Queensland, in formed Mr. Wado that tho Queensland Government was unable-to agree to tho proposal to increase tho Navy subsidy. H( considers tho Federal Government should bt allowed, to carry out its duties connected with defence without meddling by tho States, A MISCONCEPTION. (Rec. March 31, 11.40 p.m.) . London, March 31. All the newspapers display the offer oi New South Wales and Victoria. The "Standard" says the value of the Australasian gifts sinks almost into ins\gnificancc .beside the moral cffcct of their noble partnership in tho work of Imperial defence. The "Daily Mail" says that the splendid offer is received with the warmest gratitude. It indicates the enormous latent resources of men and money, of tho British Empire. The "Daily Graphic," in applauding the offer of New South Wales and Victoria, adds that the Commonwealth realises that it is impossible to havo a voico in the control of the Imperial Navy without Imperial Federation, for which colonial opinion is as yet unprepared. (Rec. April 1, 0.45 a.m.) Sydney, March 31. The announcement in the English cablegrams that -Victoria and New South Wales havo offered a Dreadnought is evidently due to a misconcoption. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN STATES. (Rec. April 1, 0.45 a.m.) Melbourne, March 31. A conference took place to-day by telephone between, tho Governments of New South Wales and Victoria with regard to their offer to tho Prime Minister, Mr. Fisher, to bear their share, on a per capita basis, of tho cost of presenting a Dreadnought. Mr. Murray, Premier of Victoria, subsequently stated that the position was a somewhat difficult one, and the Cabinet would decide at its mooting to-morrow what further steps should bo taken. No formal reply had been received from tho Primo Minister, nor have the othor States announced their atiitnde. It was understood, added Mr. Murray, that they wero disinclined to contribute. Ho would havo a further conference witli the New South Wales Government to-morrow. REMARKS BY LORD CREWE. (Rcc. March 31, 10 p.m.) London, March 31. Speaking at the opening of the Victorian offices in London, Lord Crewo (Secretary for tho Colonies) said it was impossible to allude to the gift of a Dreadnought without feelings of emotion and gratitude. Tiie Government and tho country were profoundly touched by this ovidcnce of goodwill, sympathy, and loyalty to tho Empire. He was certain that thero could not be a closer bond than that founded on common sympathy such as had been shown first by New Zealand. and now by Australia, in the noble contributions to tho general defenco of tho Empire.

PRESS COMMENTS.

[ — AUSi'RAIiIA'S TRUE PROTECTOR THE BRITISH FLEET. ' Sydney, March 31. The "Daily Telegraph" points out that tlio destroyers will bo useless unless they arc attached to a deep sea squadron. "Our clear interest and manifest duty is to strengthen tho ilecfc which, while it holds the seas, makes invasion impossible. Any defenco scheme ignoring that is a fraudulent delusion, and just thero is whero the incurably weak points of Mr. Fisher's policy protrude." The "Sydney Morning Herald" declares Mr. Fisher is entirely astray regarding tho naval defenco question. His scheme merely commits Australia to an enormous oxponso for construction and maintenanco without even gaining local immunity, at tlio same tinio as it fails most shamefully to play tho part in Empire defence that events so 'ouillv cull us to undertake. Ho has strangely ini.v tvud lh» flgtia of tfce tiausk If ho thiiitu now

is tlio appropriate time to appeal to purely local patriotism. His plain duty was to stand by tlio Empire, and ho must bo loft under no illusion that ho is helping tlio Empiro with a destroyer fleet. AUCKLAND EDUCATION BOARD APPROVES. THE CADET MOVEMENT. {BY TELEGIIA Til —Tit ESS ASSOCIATION.^ Auckland, March 31. At tlio Auckland Education Board's meeting this morning tlio chairman (Mr. C. J. Parr) said that before entering upon the ordinary business of the meeting ho thought it only right for the board to oxpress its appreciation of the prompt and statesmanlike attitude taken by the Prime Minister in the present naval crisis. There might bo some difference of opinion as to tlio manner in which Sir .Joseph Ward acted, but Mr. Parr thought the Prime Minister had acted rightly. Ho believed in the saying, "Ho who gives quickly gives twice." The greatness of the occasion justified a departure from the ordinary rule and precedent. Mr Parr then moved tlio following resolution: "That tlio board extend to tho Government congratulations on its attitude in offering on behalf of New Zealand a Dreadnought to His Majesty's Navy." Mr. Garland, in seconding tho motion, endorsed Mr. Parr's remarks. Mr. Edgceumbe said that tho saying "He who gives quickly gives twice" was tlio, crux of the whole matter. Mr: Greenslade said that when Parliament met ho was sure ©very member would endorso tlio Primo Minister's action. The chairman then proposed, "That tho Auckland Education Board, in view ,of the present state of tho Dominion's defences, begs once more to press u]xm the attention of tlio Government tho advisableness of utilising tho cadets in training from tho timo the boys leave school up to manhood." It was a pity, lie said, that tho boys were' allowed to go out of tho cadet movement as soon as they loft school. The matter had been spoken of often before, but the time was now ripe when it should bo pressed upon tho Government. New Zealand had dono more for the education of its young people than any country in the'world. > The State gavo practically freo education from tho elementary schools to tho university, and was entitled to expcct somo return'. The speaker did not think that the young people would begrudgo this small return, and would gladly continue their drill and training if called upon to do so. There was a volunteer system whereby they could continue military braining, but there was 110 proper organisation in tho matter, and they missed the teachers and officers who had'led them. Sir. H. J. Greenslade, in seconding tho proposition, said that the cadet movement was one of tho most important things of the kind that they had in tlio Dominion, or ever hid had. Ho also remarked on the splendid chcorfulness of tho young teachers in tho work of training. Mr. Garland said tho board could do 110 harm, and might do a lot of good, by pressing this matter on the Government. It was lamentable to see so much good material running to seed in tho towns. They did not proposo anything like conscription, which was foreign to the feelings and spirit of British manhood, but thev wanted willing men. Mr. Bagnall regretted that they had waited until some storm arose heforo they 'seemed to he able to seo what their duty was in these matters. Being reminded by the chairman that the board bad been urging the authorities in this matter for a long timo, Mr. Bagnall added that he hoped thoy would at last be successful. Mr. Edgceumbe, in supporting tho motion, remarked that employers had not given facilities in the past for their employees to continue military training when in business. Both resolutions were carried unanimously CIFT OR INCREASED SUBSIDY? RESOLUTION BY CITRISTCHURCH NAVY LEAGUE. (DT TELEGRAI'/I—PRESS ASSOCIATION*.) Christchurch, March 31. At the annual meeting of the Navy League to-day a motion was carried to the effect that .the leaguo heartily endorsed the action of the Govoi'iiment in offering assistance to the Mother Country in the present epoch in her history. The mover said it was absolutely necessary that something should bo dono in tho way of assistance, but perhaps it would have been better if the Government bad not. earmarked the money to be voted, for tho present Imperial Government was not such as would command tho confidence of naval people. It might have been better if tho assistance had taken the form of an increased subsidy, and the allocation of the money left to tho Admiralty. It was resolved to forward a copy' of the resolution to the Primo Minister.