THE DREADNOUGHT SCARE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 484, 17 April 1909, Page 9

THE DREADNOUGHT SCARE.

3 ' Sir, —Referring to this matter, "one of tho 15 highest authorities in Now Zealand/.' w says that ''the Executive, if it is worth its D " salt, must assume the right as, well as the ;* power in an emergency and take the responsibility without waiting for Parliamen--10 tary authority." Surely tins' begs the whole 16 ciuostion. What is the emergency? Are wo in. a immediate danger: of invasion or rebellion? lr in tho ordinary course Parliament will meet '" two months .bonce. Is thero some threatened ! v peril of so fearful a nature that a delay of , two months will bring irreparable disaster '• to tho Empire? Even the sensational cablegrams which have been sent to.us of late'froir London'givo no indication that tho emergency contemplated by the learned counsel has arisen. They rather suggest that in the opinion of tho Imperial Government no such emergency exists, and only, this morning I i>! read that, aecordins to the Parliamentary s Secretary to the, Admiralty (Dr. Macna- ; mam), "tho Government's prolamine j s [J sufficient to secure the national sarbty." In |j the face of this authoritative ■ statement the 0 "Salus. populi" excuse has no application.— : I am, etc.;< ' ■ . T. M. 1 ; April 8.