LUNCHEON TO ADMIRAL FAWKES.

North Otago Times, 8 January 1908, Page 4

LUNCHEON TO ADMIRAL FAWKES.

l'er Press Association. Invoicargill, Jan. 7. Admiral and L.ndy Fawkcs wcro encrtaincd at lunch nt tho Bluff to-day jy the llhif? Harbor Board. Mr J. lil iVntspn, Chairman of the Board, proVom[ the health of their guests, and fiiloeisMl the British naval iwrvico M beinir the besf guarantee for tho continuation of peace, consequently the people should sparo no sacrideo in scckme to contribute to maintain tho aupremecy of tlio navy, as other cumtrics were casting cnrjoiin tho progress and prosperity of the Doniiiuon. . ' '

.Admira Fawkcs, ]n reply, {tailed the Hoard for their entertainment,;imd said ho was proud to bn the Brat M. mirnlto flylho fiaij in the inner har-' tar of tlio Bluff, Ho ..numerated wl|. vt wo flojr itood foe to Kev Zoaltad, It

hacKplaced jhe present people in tho Dominion; 'and insured them peace and protection, enabling them to make progress', in « comparatively short time, which was tho wonderment of visitors from the old land. • Ho emphasised tho necessity for tho Empire hanging together. There wos no certainty that pence would last, and tho duty,of tho citizens'was to bo! jrepared to guard their hearths nr.il homes. Ihq nnyv. must be 'tcpt up, particularly in regard to the way in which its organisation was controlled, lhero \vero 41 New Zcalanks and Australians in tho navy, and ho had received tho best reports of them, liecarding the naval agreement, ho was of opinion that.the rinvnl control was best as at present, in the hands of tho Admiralty, and to mnvo n ship to sea wherever., attack threatened. It wns hotter to keep-possible enemies from out; waters tlinn heat them on our nlioivs. Time might bring new developments, hut the best development was tho gradual training up of men from all parts of the Empire in tho navy. The Admiral conveyed .. tho King's -personal message, thntijMsJ Majesty wns sorry he had been u»}s» to visit Australia, -fj In response to tho toast of thoitominion Government, the Premier saitl that there should bo no alteration in tho naval agreement, as tho ofiico of the navy was to defend commerce on the highways of tho sea, This country was prepared to increase its subsidy materially. It would be sound pollov for the Government to say they would have a suitable ship, and would have ono thousand young follows aboard (hat ship. If, in conjunction with tho present work they were carrying out, . (he Government, could get 'a suitable ship to accommodate 1000 youths tho Government wore prepared to pay for i its upkeep, and ..the country would endorso tho'action." The Government i would go fiirthor-thcy would provido , pensions for the lads after they had completed their service. Tho populaI tion would one day bo many millions, and the Government had to assist tho«e in char«c. ; 1 After tho luncheon Admiral Fawkos proceeded direct to Qucensfown by ; special (rain.