MOCKING NEW ZEALAND.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 839, 27 March 1909, Page 3

MOCKING NEW ZEALAND.

A KNOCK FOR GERMANY. INSULT FROM THE COLONLttS. GERMANY'S INFLEXIBILITY. SYDNEY DREADNOUGHT FUND. HEATED CORRESPONDENCE. (Received March 27, 8.50 a.m.) .London, March. 26. The Pall Mall uasette declares that Premier Asquith'a method of fencing New Zealand's offer has raised an t ugly suspicion that while seeming to welcome it, he is really mocking and evading its purpose. New Zealand never intended to replace a vessel which would otherwise have been ' built by the British taxpayers. - "If New Zealand's generosity," says the Gazette, "were merely employed to further the auns of the Little Navy Party, bitter indignation would " be provoked." St. Petersburg, March 26. The Novoe Vremya Press, commenting on the British naval agitation, contrasts Germany's protestations oi friendship with her hasty, secret, militant preparation. Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., Labour Leader, speaking at South Norwood, declared that the Labour Party considers that the colonial offers to asgist the navy are an insult to the greatness and majesty of the Mother Country, and that there is no foundation for the present miserable scare. (Received March 27, 8.8 a.m.) Berlin, Maroh 28. Some German newspapers admit that- tthe action of the Reichstag in voting the naval estimates without debate is meant as a warning to foreign countries of German inflexibility. Sydney, March 26. The Lord Mayor, in issuing an appeal to the people of the State for a -v quarter of a million towards the cost of a Dreadnought, says that this amount/ backed by the handsome support he expects from the State Government, will relieve the State from the stigma of selfishness or indifference. - A strong influential committee has ' been appointed to act with the Lord Major. (Heoeived March 27, 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, March 27. — The Lord Mayor's appeal for a Dreadnought fund says the fact stands out that tue Jfimpir© is already weighted down oy cue cost ox defence maintenance and must face a largely increased expenditure. To maintain the 'present uupiregiiauig position, her sons must assist. New Zealand nas nobly led tue way. The Hon. (i. v. Wade, .Premier ot jN. tt. W., has wired to other State j.'remiers that he considers the Dreaduougut scnenie inappropriate, anu suggesting insteatf tnat the States "" combine to increase Uie naval subsidy i/O fr^l* a million. .Brisbane, March Hi. Heated correspondence passed, between the (Jhamoer ot Commerce ano the Mayor over the latter's refusal co call a Dreadnought meeting. Hit oaayor declared that when citizens as a body signified their wishes, ne wouiu act, without coercion. rertn, March Hi, r i/he Mayor presided at a paa&ed, meeting in the xown Hall, at which dir John Jb'orrest moved a resolution asking the Federal Government to iniorm the Home authorities tnat ti.e ■ 'people of Australua were prepared to make every necessary sacrifice to maintain Britain's supremacy on the sea. Xoe moving oi an amendment, on benaii ot the Australian Natives' Association, that the necessary sacrifice should take* the sliape of an increased expenditure on local defence, led to great disorder. Tiie Mayor, amid a wild scene oi commotion, declared Sir John Forrest's resolution carried.' The movers ot the amendment al> terwards, at an open-air meeting, adopted a resolution protesting against the Mayor's ruling and claiming that /the amendment was carried Jjy three to one.