THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14982, 30 April 1909, Page 9

THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l claim from your courtesy a brief space in which to comment upon “ Anti-Humbug’s ” Jotter in your issue of Saturday last. I speak with absolute authority when I state that an influential committee is actually in course of formation for the purpose of obtaining the viows of the electors of Christchurch .North on certain actions of their parliamentary representative, Mr T. E. Taylor, Your correspondent may rest assured that in this matter there, is not, nor will there be, any “hole in the corner” business, as he jvoulij suggest, but proceedings will be conducted constitutionally, and on well-recognised principles of fair play; due care being taken to avoid a repetition of the fiasco at the late King Edward Barracks gathering. “ AntiHumbug’s.” face'tiss in reference to Mr D. Bates is of no interest to me. 1 do not held a'brief for Mr whom 1 have only a casual acquaintance, but I cannot avoid suggesting that your correspondent’s effusion is not in the best of _taste, considering that the movement in which Mr Bates is taking an interest is one of public importance, non can I see any point whatever in his letter. The subject to be discussed later on between Mr T. E. Taylor.:. M.P., and His' constituents in Christchurch is not such as should invite levity. It appears to me to be of a serious character.—l am, etc., AN ELECTOR. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Sir Joseph Ward has stated he has a sßhemo whereby the cost of the promised battleship will be • defrayed without placing any burden on the general taxpayer. Would it not. be m. accordance with the traditions or British fairplay were, wo to wait to hear this scheme before condemning Sir Joseph AVard or harassing him with more or less crude suggestions or ill-thought-out proposals'? Now, that tile various deliberate assemblies _ are voicing their opinions on the subject, it is. easily seen Sir Joseph has the great majority of the people with him. In what degree better off would the general public have, been, or in what way would the offer have been more constitutional had Sir Joseph informed members of 'Parliament before making it?' And, after all is said and done, what members of Parliament outside Mr T. E. Taylor, are of opinion they have been subject? to an indignity? Had Mr Taylor been asked'by the Premier • would he have, agreed to assist the Mother Country? Where is the analogy between the Boer war and the gift of a Dreadnought ? The object of the gift is to help increase the strength of the British navy in order to preserve peace. Is _ it not more statesmanlike and more in accordance with common-sense to prevent war than to pTate of what we would do when war, with &11 its far-reaching horrors, were proclaimed?— l am, etc., JAT> y x TO THE EDITOm ' Sir —I have followed the discussion ©n rthe “Dreadnought Offer” with very much interest, and many have taken the opporutnity of airing their viows on.the subject through the medium of your columns, but I_ think when it comes,to one man .working up a protest such as Mr -David Bates in your columns yesterday speaks of, it is getting beyond all sense of reason and fair play. Indeed, ..Mr Bates s letters all the way thre-’gh have exhibited a personal animus against Mr T. E. Taylor more than disapproval of the cablegram which Mr Tayior sent. Who is David Bates? Does he want to contest the seat' for Christchurch North? I would like to point out to the Christchurch North electors this fact. Mr T. E. Taylor has shown his colours as a staunch Britisher and a fearless man, and also has shown liow truly ho is seeking the welfare of the dominion'at large and of his own electorate by his action. . We have proved him richt before, and his past act should pfovo'to the electors of Christchurch North, .that, for the principles ■for which they elected him by so overwhelming a majority, he still stands’ true, and has not, altered one iota. Also, has he not proved to the working man many times, how faithfully and fearlessly lie defends their just claims? One would. think Christchurch citizens were foreigners instead of Britishers. One moment they cry “Vive,” the next “Bas.” A man like Mr David Bates, who will so persistently and seemingly vindictively strive to kick a man when ho is (apparently) down, will not bo the man in whom they can safely trust - to

render them any good service publicly, and ‘ they should wait ■ and see how things shape when Parliament meets, let David Bates and his suggestions stay just where they are now in your columns. I hope tho Christchurch North electors will not forget that Mr Taylor’s principles are just now what they were when they eleoted him to represent them, that he is a clean politician and a man to be depended upon, and that they will remain loyal to their own expressed principles in'. November last as he has been and will remain loval to them. I am, etc., MARGUERITE D’AUVERGNE. Ashburton, April 23.