THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14975, 22 April 1909, Page 7

THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

DISCUSSED BY THE FARMERS’ UNION. PRIME MINISTER’S ACTION approved. “ THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHP TIME.” At the conclusion_ of the ordinary business at the meeting of the Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday, the offer of a Dreadnought to the Home Government by the New Zealand Government was discussed. I lie matter was introduced by Mr G. W. Leadley. who moved, amidst the applause of the members present-" That, recognising the necessity of England maintaining her naval supremacy, in older to keep open our trade routes for tho safety of sea-borne commerce, this executive hereby express its entire approval of Sir Joseph \\ ard’s spirited and timely otter to assist tho Homo Government.’' In moving the motion, Mr Leadl'ev said that he hoped that the matter would be discussed earnestly, and that f 0?, lifted to a higher level than it had been placed by some people in the city. It was well known that he was not a supporter of the present Government, but in tho matter of an offer of a Dreadnought he was entirely with tho Prime Minister. It was a matter that concerned the fanning community of tne whole of New Zealand. They were dependent on the open sea for the interchange of their commerce. Any defence of New Zealand, to be of any use, must he made at the other end of the wo rid. It would bo all very well for them to shed the last drop of blood in the defence of the shores of the dominion, but it .Britain s naval supremacy was gone it would be useloss. They all desired peace, and the naval supremacy of .Britain was'the best means of maintainmg peace. He was pleased at the offer, because the Fanners’ Union had been one oi the first bodies to suggest the increase of tho naval subsidy, three years ago tho Union had suggested it, and the following year it had affirmed the suggestion, and last year the Union had approved of tho action of the Government in increasing the subMay- They would be told that tho civil liberties had been interfered with by the unconstitutional act of Sir Joseph Ward but he would rather have his civil liberties interfered with by Sir Jo-' seph Ward than by a squadron of .German battleships on the dominioiVs coasts.

Mr Wilfred Hall seconded the motion. He said that there seemed to be in New Zealand a party that could be called the _ Peace-at-any-price Party.” As far as he could judge, there seemed little doubt that Germany was contemplating an attack on Britain. She was building big fleets, and it would be ■ idiotic for Britain to abstain from preparation for a struggle. The offer made by the Prime Minister had not been unconstitutional. The monov had hot been paid; only an offer ‘had been made, and it was well known that th« offer would need to be ratified by Par- . Lament. The Prime Minister had made the offer confident that the people would back him up. It was the best thing that Sir Joseph Ward had ever done. Mr G. Sheat said that they had to’ consider that the Union was practically binding the whole of the farming community in Canterbury. Personally ho felt that tho Prime Minister had acted correctly, but it would have been an easy matter to have obtained tho consent- of the members of Parliament." If Sir Joseph Wal'd had had some inside information regarding tha situation, his action had been justified, hut if not it was open to severe censure. Tho question was not whether the nation was menaced, but whether the constitution deserved more consideration. There was no doubt that Britain had to watch Germany, and if the offer of a Dreadnought would purchase peace it was a cheap insurance. In view of the facts that had come out later, however, it would seem that Sir Joseph had been entirely right. He had done the right thing at the right time, and, though ho (Mr Sheat) was in opposition to the Government-, ho approved of the offer. I

Mr Richard Evans said that the effect of the offer, whatever tho motive that prompted it, had been to show the world that the colonies were prepared to help the Motherland. The best man in a difficulty was the . man who gave quickly. There was no doubt that the Opposition in England was trying to hamper tho present Government, but from the latest papers it would seem that the Dreadnought offered, by New Zealand would be, when it was built, of a vastly improved type, and probably twice as strong as the present ships. The Germans were good colonists, but he did not wish to be governed by them, and he repeated that, whatever the motive that prompted Sir Joseph Ward to make the offer, it had been the right thing at tho right time. Mr Sheat said that some peoplo in Christchurch had made “conglomerate asses ” of themselves in their attitude over the matter. The offer had done tho dominion’s credit at Home a great deal of good, but the cablegram sent by the member for Christchurch North had belittled the dominion, made it appear ridiculous, and in a way helped to spoil the credit of the dominion in the eyes of the London financiers. A member: It has had absolutely no effect. Mr Leadley said that when the offer was made both Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Asquith had known that it was subject to ratification by the New Zealand Parliament; they were not novices in political matters. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was decided to forward a copy of it to the Prime Minister. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION’S ACTION. THE OFFER SUPPORTED. SOME PATRIOTIC UTTERANCES. At yesterday’s meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Dr Levinge said he desired to move a resolution regarding the Cabinet’s offer to- the Imperial authorities of a Dreadnought. Tho matter affected tho farming community perhaps more than any other section of the dominion’s population, because in tho event of war the farmers must suffer very severely. Other bodies had passed resolutions hearing on this matter, and ho believed they were all. favourable to the offer. It was only reasonable, therefore, that the committee should take some cognisance of tho offer. It was not a party question in any sense, because there was no division among political parties over it. The question as to whether the Cabinet’s action was constitutional could very well bo left to members of Parliament to fight out on the floor of the House. While everybody must agree that constitutional principles should be adhered to, when an emergency arose he thought the Government had done very well by the country by seizing the occasion. Bo moved—“ That this committee, representing the agricultural and pastoral interests of Canterbury, while desiring adherence to constitutional gliaciplcs in tho government of the

country, and regretting that any necessity should arise for departure therefrom, nevertheless, in view of the emergency of the occasion, heartily approves of the action of the Cabinet in recognising its responsibilities and meeting the same in a manner worthy of a loyal and patriotic people by the timely offer of substantial assistance to the Motherland when her supremacy of the sea was threatened.” In seconding the motion, Mr M. Murphy said that this was a matter of life or death, and the Government should bo loyally backed up. Mr D. D. Macfarlano said that it was a case of “ he who gives quickly gives twice,” and tho Government was to be commended for its prompt action. If the supremacy of the 6ea was lost to Britain there was no doubt that the colonies would suffer severely. Most people had no conception of what would occur in such an event. Tho supremacy of the sea would be decided in the North Sea, and not at the antipodes. Mr J. D. Hall said that lie would support the motion, so long as it was understood that its wording did not imply that the Government had committed an unconstitutional act. Personally, he did not think there . had been any depart ire from constitutional principles. When the various units of the Empire recognised that the Empire as a whole was threatened, any constitution worth anything would Surely allow a Government to take prompt action without the necessity of consultation with the people’s represecvauyes. The only question in this particular case was whether the necessity had arisen. He did not doubt that it had. If his hearers read the newspaper accounts of affairs in Germany they could not but feel that any day things might come to such a pitch as to cause a rupture between Germany and Britain. The moral effect of New Zealand’s Dreadnought’s offer would go further than the actual, degree of additional protection conferred upon the dominion. New Zealand’s national existence depended upon its sea-borne trade, because its agricultural products were the means of supporting the whole country. If Britain ceased to have a sea-power equal to that of the other two most formidable Powers, j New Zealand’s produce would fall into the hands of the enemy upon the .outbreak of hostilities. The people who were urging the discharge of Addington workshops employees as a reason why the Government’s offer should not have been made, evidently had no idea of the real position of affairs. There was nothing more necessary than that the Imperial spirit should be fostered, and it was the bounden duty of every citizen in the Empire to do his host to keep the Empire together. Dr Levin go said that he had not intended his motion to assert that the Government- had departed from constitutional principles in any way, but ■ had mentioned the matter, perhaps 'mistakenly, to meet the views of those who might have doubts on the matter. The chairman, Mr A. Chamberlain, in putting the motion, said that it had his entire approval. The motion was carried unanimously. ; TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Some days ago a suggestion was-made by me through your columns that some organised protest should be made by the electors, of Christchurch. North against the sending of the cablegram by Mr T. E. Taylor. Since then a petition . asking Mr Taylor to resign has been presented to me for signature. At the same time a number of electors of Christchurch North aTe arranging a formal protest. Would it not he better for those who are taking round the various petitions to join forces with those who are organising a formal protest. In the latter movement I have been asked to assist, and have gladly consented. I understand that preparatory to calling a public meeting (to which admission will-be by ticket only), a provisional committee is being formed, and, subject to the approval of such public meeting, it is suggested that signatures to. the protest be secured by bolding a six days’ campaign of public meetings (admission *by ticket) throughout the electorate, by providing facilities for signing in the Square, and by. inviting those who deBire to be waited on for their signatures to signify their desire through the post, all signatures to lie voluntary, and only electors of Christchurch North to eign. The carrying out of this programme efficiently must, of necessity, entail an enormous amount of work; the expense, however, will be trifling if a sufficient number of volunteers be forthcoming. There are required speakers for these public meetings, someone with leisure and capacity to act as secretary, volunteers to secure signatures and to wait on those who have previously indicated a desire to sign. I may be sanguine, but I believe that the majority of the electors of Christchurch North are willing to sign a protest suitably worded; but, whatever the result, my duty and loyalty impel me to make some effort to correct the evil effects of the blunder, in my opinion, committed by Mr Taylor in sending this cablegram. His protest by public meeting or on the floor of the House against what he deemed an unconstitutional act of the Premier, would have been quite constitutional. He has not, nor can he justify his action in sending as member for Christchurch North the cablegram to the- Prime Minister of Great Britain. Unless protested against, the stigma of that cablegram falls on each elector of Christchurch North. If the majority of tho electors of Christchurch North sign the protest, a reasonable result would be to ask Mr Taylor to withdraw his cablegram, iu manner approved; and, failing his consent to do 80, then for tho electors who have signed’ the protest to see that the true position is brought before the not ice.of the Prime Minister and Parliament of Great Britain. Letters enough have been written: workers are required. If any desiring to assist in any way by suggestion or otherwise will communicate such desire by letter addressed to “Tho Chairman Protest Committee,” care , address below, I will undertake that same shall reach the intended destina-tion.-—I am, etc., DAVID BATES. 67, Cathedral Square, April 21,1909.