CHRISTCHURCH AND OREADNOUGHTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 485, 19 April 1909, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH AND OREADNOUGHTS.

CHALLENGE. TO MR. TAYLOR.

; Captain M'Gee, of, the Defence Department,' liasoffered to-contest tho Christchurch North beat with Mr. T. E.'Taylor, if the. latter will resign, ohb'nb question 'only—Dreadnought br no Dreadnought?: '''There heed bb ho expenses,"' he 1 told a .'.'Press"' rejpbtter, "No.meetingsian'd- ho halls will bo required if. the question is put ( straight-out to the electors. We don't want any- side issues such as lands for .'settlement or 'old ago, pensions. Wo could drop all that 'and fight.it out oh the question Dreadnought or no Dreadnought.;: Mr. Taylor has expressed lumsolf very, much in favour of compulsory military, training, and : says that men , of cer-' tain ages 'should do'-their duty to their country. . r have had 23 years' work in the Defence ] Department. I should like to ask Mr. laylor how many years he has served his .'country -.'as' a volunteer." ■ ■■■

; ■ A LYTTELTONMEETING. ;/ ..(BY TOLEOB AMI—PRESS. ASSOCIATION.) ■[./■' .. '■ Chrlstohurcli, April 18. < f A. meeting by Mr.. Laurenson, •■M.I;,-and others was held at Lj-ttelton on Saturday night to discuss the ' Dreadnought offor; Between three and four hundred persons were present, and the proceedings wero orderly-, though there, were dissentients present. .The Mayor, of Lyttelton, Mr. C Cook presided. . . ..'-._.'. ;■•-.•■.. ■■'....'■- ' Mr. Olaudo Ferrfer,, ih a forceful speech proposed-" fhat this representative meeting of Lyttelton electors desires to express hearty approyal.of the offer of the New Zealand Government to supply a battleship to the British ftavy, and it .desires to leave the disciissipn.of the constitutional aspect of this oirer to the representatives of the people in Parliament to consider, being convinced that they will,settle that .question in a manner which will uphold the absolute rieht of Par' liament totfo control of public expenditure And will at tho same time be in consonanw ; SnaS°of ,P tf i§4 p S ity and •"-.- .Mrs. .Newell, wife of Dr. Newell, seconded the motion in an eloquent address , Tho motion supported by Mr. Laurenson, who dealt .with various phases of- the subject Referring to the'question how the expenditure was to bo met, he susarested that' loan taxes, to meet interest and sinking fund ■ hs earmarked, that tho taxes bo in the direction of reducing tli6 incomo tax ex bmption from ,£3OO to £2150 and of increasing probate duties. The speech was well receiyod. , . .'-..- .:•-.', Tho motion p was agreed to : almost unanimously, only ionr or five hands bein<r hold up against it.' The.meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem and with cheers. '■■■■■'. .' ,