NEW ZEALAND'S GIFT THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 139, 14 June 1909, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S GIFT THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

FURTHER DISCUSSION IN ■PARLIAMENT. ADVERSE MOTION TABLED BY THfl HON. J. RLGG. When the Legislative Council met afe 10.30 this morning, the Hon. J. Rigg gave notice to move the following motion afc the next sitting :—: — f "That this Council disapproves of the ,offer to the British Government of a. fully-equipped battleship of the Dreadnought type (or two, if necessary) made by the Government of New Zealand fop the following reasons :—: — * " (1) ■That it is an unjustifiable extravagance. " (2) That so long as we are in debt, <and depending on borrowed money for 'the development of our own. country, itj is an immoral act. " (3) That we become ridiculous when, it is necessary for us to ask from thoso to whom we make the gift the loan, ofi the money necessary to pay for it. " (4) That Great 'Britain can well afford to pay for all the battleships she requires ; and " (5) That the proposal is the outcome of a newspaper scare organised for un* ;. worthy motives." The motion will come up for discus-, -teion When the Council meete at 10.30 •to-morroiv. ' ' To-day the "Lords" had no business to transact, and after hearing Mr. Rigg'g 'notice read immediately adjourned.