Evening Post SATURDAY', MARCH 27, 1909. GETTING THEIR BEARINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1909, Page 4

Evening Post SATURDAY', MARCH 27, 1909. GETTING THEIR BEARINGS.

The best news from London to-day is that at the eleventh hour the Unionists are going to endeavour to subordinate the party element in their attack on the naval policy of the Government. It is unfortunate that- they did not think of this sooner. In his reply to the speech .with which Mr. M'Kenna introduced the Naval Estimates, Mr. Balfour succeeded in maintaining the high level which the gravity of a great national issue deserved. The pressure of the party system is such that it was perhaps too much to hope that this level could be long maintained, and all such hopes were dashed when Mr. Balfour tabled his motion of censure on the Government ' a day or two later. Throughout the past week the discussion has proceeded in the Old Country on normal parly lines, but with more than the normal amount of party bitterness. If Mr. Balfour's notice of motion was not the signal for this campaign, it certainly put an end to the restraining influence which his speech might have been expected to exercise. There has been no restraint of any kind on the discussion in the country, nor was the preliminary skirmish in the House of Commons on Monday, which to some extent anticipated the debate of Monday next, so distinguished. Both the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition fought "with the gloves off." "Because the Government will not budge a hairs-breadth from a policy involving a great national peril, I take the course I have announced," said Mr. Balfour, referring to his censure motion. It therefore seems rather late in the day to think of avoiding a party division on a motion which remains unmodified. What the Unionists have arranged is that Mr. A. H. Lee, who was Mr. Balfour's Under-Secretary to the Admiralty, shall move Mr. Balfour's motion, and that Mr. Balfour shall reserve his speech till' the close of the debate, "in the hope that the Government's final pronouncement will- obviate the necessity of taking a division on party lines." So belated a repentance suggests rather the hope of some tactical advantage by altering the position of the big gun than any change of heart. The fight must be fought to a finish in the traditional cat-and-dog style of paity politics, notwithstanding tho selection of a lieutenant 10 fire the first shpt in next Monday's battle. One of yesterday's cablegrams indicates that, tor the present another striking personality haa qolipsed both Mi 1 . Asqwith and Me, {Balfour in .the p.uJoKq fayoyv,. Locd

Charles iieresford, who has just been retired from the command of the Chanr.el Fleet, has received "tremendous, pubKc ovations '"both in Portsmouth and jio London. Ho is, of course, just the :kind of fighting man that the Briti^i public likes, but, he is rather too difficirfi; ' to manage to be popular with his superiors in time of peace. Twenty years ago li 3 resigned his position as one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty oa-, a similar- issue to that which is now exercising the public mind. The Navy, in his opinion, was being kept too weak, and he refused to take any official responsibility for such a policy. It WO uld be interesting to get his viewvon the present controversy, but he, may not think Aimself free to speak. " I consider naval affairs so grievaus," he says, "that I must have time to consider what my duty to the, Navy and the country dictates." This oracular utterance may have some reference to the scandal caused last year by the friction between, himself and his colleagues in tho Channel Fleet, but it more probably refers to the broader questions of policy relating to the strength and disposition of the Navy. When he does feel justified in speaking out, he will certainly h ave a good hearing. New. Zealand's offer, wo much regret to see, is being used to embitter party Bio-ife in the Old Country, instead of it. Lord Crewe'e message /to Lord Phinket, which we published -yesterday, announced the acceptance of the offer in terms that, on this side of ■v-the world at any. rate, have given complete satisfaction. The./ Secretary of State for the Colonies desires his Excellency to express to Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues "ip. the warmest terms, 'the feeling of appreciation and gratitude with which his Majesty's Government, have received) tho offer so generously and patriotically made." But ■ the statement is added that as for the coming financial year "the provisions ,>and powers for which sanction is being asked in the Naval Estimates now before Parliament afford ample security," the New Zealand Government will be consulted by despatch as to the appropriate time for giving effect to the offer. This intimation has been received in New Zealand with perfect equanimity,, 'but in England it is causing the Unionists to shed many bitter tears on our behalf. The Times declares that in th« opinion of the Opposition "the postponement of acceptance of New Zealand's offer will chill enthusiasm and loyalty." Is it the fear that we may freeze or the desire, for fuel with which to roast the Liberal Government that really, prompts such criticism? The Pall Mall Gazette is suffering even more 'seriously tnan The Times, being the victim of "an ugly suspicion" that "Mr. Asquith's method of fencing with New Zealand's offer, while seeming to welcome it, really mocks and evades its purpose." New Zealand, having given tho ship, must leave the British Government to deal with the present as it thinks best, and can only regret that her good intentions should be exploited for party purposes in this unfortunate manner. From Mr. Wade, the Premier of New South Wales, comes the excellent suggestion that Australia should increase her naval subsidy to £500,000. The proposal is welcome, both on its own account and as tending to relieve the various Governments of Australia from the reproach of a purely negative attitude to this great question. A permanent increase of this »kind would be a far more businesslike, though less dramatic, procedure than spasmodic generosity when any special emergency arises. If Australia will take Mr. Wade's advice, and at the same time raise a Dieadnought by private subscription, she. will do well indeed.