"DREADNOUGHTS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1909, Page 6

"DREADNOUGHTS."

New Zealand's offer of a Dreadnought has been accepted, and Lord Crewe has cabled "an important despatch" upon the subject to Lord Plunket, but its publication has been delayed owing to his Excellency's absence at sea. The preparation of such a despatch could hardly have- been in better hands than those of Lord Crewe, who is a master of graceful and tactful speech. The unofficial spokesman of the British people — the London Times — of course rejoices at the acceptance of the offer, and declares that "the same spirit that prompted it will cause the meesage accepting it to be read in New Zealand as expressing the appreciation and gratitude felt in every English street and lane." It was unfortunately inevitable that the offer should be turned to the service of party in British politics, but it is some consolation to find that the service is not entirely one-sided. "The Standard, in welcoming New Zealand's noble gift, contrasts Sir Joseph Ward's superb words 'if necessary, two Dreadnoughts,' with Mr. Asquith's 'if necessary' grudgingly applied to the conditional Dreadnoughts for April, 1910." That is just what we had to expect — so inevitable, that there was ground for fearing that the British Government might accept our "noble offer" with a wry face in consequence. But Lord Carrington, who, after passing the age which would' superannuate him from the New Zealand Civil Service, seems still as fit for a fight as ever, can use the offer as a stick to beat the Tory dog with to some purpose. "New Zealand's offer," the veteran tolls, the National Liberal Club, "andi the handsome dopations promised by three New South Wales residents, 'have given, a glorious lead. If national sacrifices were required, let wealthy men set the example. All this Was a contrast to the pitiful attitude of the panic-stricken Opposition." The logic of Lord Carrington's reference to New Zealand affords an easy opening for criticism, since our offer was not the outcome of the voluntary individual munificence which he bespeaks from the British Opposition. But, in spite of the disparaging references which the offer has evoked from Mr. Kidston, of Queensland, and others of Australia's public men, this very attitude of disparagement and negation, added to the inspiration of New Zealand's example, has carried enthusiasm in Australia to a pitch far beyond anything that has been witnessed here. The magnificent meetings held in Melbourne and Sydney in support of the initiation of a Dreadnought fund are striking evidence that the popular sentiment of Australia goes j in this matter far beyond the caution or hesitation of its official exponents. In each case the Town Hall was packed, ! and unbounded enthusiasm prevailed. At Sydney it was resolved that "Australia should present a Dreadnought to the British Navy as an immediate expression of her invincible resolve to, stand by the Mother Country and take her place in the Empire's fighting line," and the Melbourne meeting came to a similar decision. Such gratifying proof of the trend of Australian feeling makes one regret the more the absence from office of the one man best fitted to give it appropriate expression. If Mr. Deakin had been in office, Australia might have given us a lead instead of being urged to follow our example. Such an order of precedence would have been more valuable since it would have conclusively disposed of the suggestion now made by Mr. Deakin's successor that New Zealand's offer presupposes an entirely different theory of naval defence, from that of the Com.Tnnwealth. Mr. Deakin, who knows even more about the matter than Mr. Fisher, has stated that Australia's theory of defence is based upon the undisputed supremacy of the Imperial Navy, and she is therefore concerned as much as we are to assist in maintaining that supremacy. The history of the last week would surely nave been very different had Mr. Deakin been where he ought to be. As we write copies of both despatches sent by the Secretary for the Colonies reach us. First is the gialeful acceptance which was announced in our cabled news of yesterday. The later despatch shows that the Naval Estimates for the coming financial year make, in the opinion of the 1 Government, all necessary provision for the nation's immediate requirements, and that it will be matter for consideration later when and how the accepted offer of New Zealand gUall

be utilised. It is this reservation, it would seem, that has stirred the adverse comment of the Times and Lord Balcarres mentioned in our cable messages of to-day.