PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14018, 25 March 1909, Page 5

PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS.

REPLY TO CRITIC^. CHEAP FORM OF INSURANCE. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] ' Wellington, Wednesday. In an interview the Prime Minister expressed pleasure at the manner in which New Zealanders, of all classes, had received the Cabinet's offer of a battleship to "the Homeland. "I have received hundreds of congratulatory communications from local public bodies, members of Parliament and representatives of various interests, all heartily supporting what we have done," said Sir Joseph "In a matter of this sort," the Prime Minister continued, "the iron has to be struck while it is hot, and I am satisfied in my own mind that the public sentiment of the country is with the Government, and that, in turn, members of Parliament, as - loyal citizens representative of their, views,' will support our proposals. i>: One 'or two interviews published in the press are of different tenor, and I feel sorry to I see that anyone who really thinks for himself, and attempts to gauge the situation, should form the impression that in a" case of this kind we should do nothing. They, do not appear to recognise that it is of'the first consequence to ourselves, our children, and their descendants, that, no great calamity should befall our country through • the supiueness andwant of courage ■ to make the : requisite sacrifice which will preserve the British flag. ' V ' '■ - b . . '• >. ■'" V . r

~ '.'„':, "It ; seems almost impossible to believj that even the humblest worker should- no) recognise the fact that one of the greatest (A glories of our country at. present is it< .'■'.: '"A freedom, and the maintenance. of a con ;' dition for the white race, .superior pro bably to that of any other country in the - world. The loss of prestige, would follow a" defeat : of the. British ' navy ii '" any part of ; the world. would sound to as our death knell. Financial dislocation, depression, , and disaster would follow, and - the high ruling rate' of '.. wages which hat for many years . been so fine a side of th< > ; life of our country would inevitably fall, and would be on a • parity ■ with some oi ■' ; the Continental countries, where the. wage earners are pn such a low scale as tt practically make their life a permanent torment to them.-,' It does; not » seem :to b« ■■■'■: recognised by some ; of our critics: that tin • : stoppage of deliveries of ; our sea-borni ■ ; produce would make it impossible to carrj on our industries." '~' Sir Joseph reminded his few . critics oi what.: he had already said; in regard;: tc the naval contribution being a: form ol insurance, cheap by comparison with whai other countries had to pay. "Look at th« condition of the German people," he con tinued. "They are taxed up to the eyes, taxed to an oppressive extent, while we, by our strong adhesion tor the > British navy, keeping clear of any attempt to , A have ";. a ■;.separate navy of our ; i own, are getting at the minimum of cost the .most powerful organisation in the world "■ to n o protect our interests." " The interviewer suggested that it would be opportune to speak of home defence, but the Prime Minister declined, on the ' ground that it was quite a separate' question, from the all-important one of sea ' • suprema<6y. "I am not unmindful," he added, "of the vital importance of having an efficient,, broad-based, and practical system of home defence, 'ut 1 the "present < is not the time to elaborate it." FORMER GOVERNORS PROUD. ■ ....:■ . ..,■,.,■:■,: MESSAGES TO PRIME MINISTER. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wednesday. Among the congratulatory, messages re-, ceived by the Prime Minister are the following:—•' " , From Lord Onslow:;. "Your former Governor is proud of the lead taken in the ■ = Empire by the Dominion of New Zealand."- , From Lord Ranfurly: " Hearty congratulations on the magnificent offer of -a- war-; ship. Effect excellent." '. * ■■'■.■■■'-'.■. .'■■''. '■--■■■■■■::• ■ <■' a. ; '-"■!'■:.:- ;'AAAr.A>; J A ; AAj; CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES. CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE; The chairman of the City Schools Committee (Mr. P. M. Mackay) yesterday re- ' ceived the following .: telegram from tha Prime Minister in reply to the committee'* resolution in connection with Siy Joseph's offer of a battleship to-Great Britain :—* " Please convey to the members of "tha Auckland.-City Schools Committee '■■ my deep appreciation of their congratulatory message on the action of the Government in offering a battleship to the Home authorities. .I am pleased to say that it is ~ meeting with general approval,,both inside and outside the Dominion." ' ~': '.. .-. ': ■ -v..■■•■■■.;•".■ ■ • ■•- • ■ : ....• '■■:-; ~.-. .. —.-,. ■'■...■■;' . " "■"" .':■/,'."',, '-' : ■■::■:::-■■'-;:: ..: < :■■■ : :.¥.^S>:«^v"#'• i^^'""^ NORTHCOTE BOROUGH COUNCIL. At the meeting _ of the Northcoie Borough Council last night,'; the action of the Government in offering a battleship to the Imperial Government was unanimously endorsed, and on . the motion of the Mayor (Mr. H. Cadness), seconded by Mr. George Fraser, it was resolved to' telegraph to Sir Joseph Ward congratulating the Cabinet, on the statesmanlike action they had taken. "~ [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENTS.] ■ ■ ,;.:;-.-..■-,■.:.,-:':-■;:::• Hamilton, Wednesday. , ,'"' The Mayor of Hamilton has.'telegraphed congratulations to the Prime Minister-on the decision of the Ministry to offer a battleship to the Imperial Government. ' ' Rotorua, Wednesday. Cabinet's offer on behalf of New Zealand of a battleship.to the Royal Navy.has met with general approval, and "a number: of . telegrams have been sent-from here"to the Prime Minister congratulating the Government on its action. : . IN OTHER CENTO , N [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION. . j - .. New Plymouth,. Wednesday. The New Plymouth Borough Council this evening carried resolution expressing approval "of Cabinet's offer, of a battleship'to ; -fi_' ''T : '"* : ' : '- 1 n the Imperial Government. * ■■■..' ■ "'' .....■■■"•'.'.■.- "■.!■ ■■■.:!■/'' .;:'..■:,;.,..■.■■■■>...■■■.■.■: ■•■!■■'f'. ; - Napier, , Wednesday. ', ,' The Napier Borough Council to-night passed a resolution heartily, approving of , the action of the Government in offering to present a battleship to the Imperial Government.