ELECTION BATTLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7022, 10 January 1910, Page 5

ELECTION BATTLE

MINISTEEIAL SPEECHES

BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVAL PROGR.AMMES. GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 9, 5 p.m.) LONDON, January 8. In tho course of a speech at Portsmouth Lord Orewe (Colonial Secretary) said tli© Government know the German warship-building programme was formidable, and through the Mulliner's firm and other sources became aware that Krupp's firm had accelerated their work. It was not tho duty of the Admiralty to advertise these facts, but to watch, and ais necessity arose the Admiralty and tho Government had to keep their eyes on the danger point. By 1912, said Lord Crewo, when Germany would have seventeen Dreadnoughts, Britain would have twenty afloat. Tho accelerating of Germany's programme represented a formidablo state of things, because of Britain's heavy task in building up something in the nature of a new navy to keep her margin ahead of other countries. "We do not deny tho gravity of the situation," said Lord Orowe. '.'The Naval Estimates in 1910 and 1911 cannot, and will not, be light. Tho British and German Governments are sincerely desirious to be friendly, hut it is impossible to shut our eyes to the fact that tho ideals of the two nations may come into conflict. ' Therefore it is necessary to he fully prepared. But me must not make ourselves the laughing stock of the whole world."

Lord Crewo added that Mr Balfour did not seem to realise the advantage of delay in building Dreadnoughts.

BRITISH FLEET MUST BE SUPERIOR.

LONDON, January 8.

Sir Edward Grey, Minister ' of Foreign Affairs, in the course of a speech yesterday, said:—"We must he prepared to meet yearly whatever increases in the Navy Estimates are necessary to enable the fleet to be superior to any probable combination of foreigners which is likely to be brought against us." the mulliner story. mr blatchford's statements denied; LONDON, January 7. Mr McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, speaking at Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire, denied that the Admiralty had to drive Mr Mulliner out of business. The Minister also declared that many of the statements by Mr Blatohiord, the Socialist writer, were grossly untrue. Referring to the statement that German seamen were better trained than British, Mr McKenna said that Mr Blatchford forgot that British Bailors served twenty-two years, while German sailors were conscripts, serving for three years. SPEECH BY SIR WILFRID LAURD3R. CANADA'S LOYALTY TO BRITAIN. WHAT DOES THE KAISER MEANP OTTAWA, January 8. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada, in the course of an address at Toronto, said he could not believe that Britain was 1 in danger, but if Britain were strongly pressed there ' would be a wave of sentiment all over Canada to go to the succour of the Old Land. Sir Wilfrid said ho was unaware of what was at the back of the Kaiser's head. He might be preparing war, but, if truio to his own words, and remembering that Mood was thicker than water, Sir Wilfrid did not believe that he intended to attack the family from which he had" sprung. When France humiliated Germany, cintinued the speaker, England's alliance saved (her. He could conceive Germany having a score against France, because. French armies had overridden the Fatherland. British policy in fhe past would not be forgotten, by the German people. Nevertheless, added the Canadian Premier, British naval supremacy was essential to the security of commerce, and was a pledge to the world for the good of the world. FOREIGN PRESS COMMENTS. BERLIN, January 8. The newspaper "Fremdenblatt" considers that Mr Balfour was justified in warning Britain that the only way to ensure peaioo was to insure against war. It emphasises Mr Balfour's disclaimer of a belief that there will be a collision with Germany. The "Neue Freie Presse' 1 stigmatises the speech as a shrill war-blast against Germany. LLOYD GEORGE AGAIN MR BALFOUR A "TAIL-TWISTER." LONDON, January 8. Mr Lloyd George, Chancellor of tho Exchequer, speaking at Peckham, South London, made a violent attack on Mr Balfour as a "Tail-twister." He declared thai tho ex-Premier's Hanley speech was the last resort of a thoroughly desperate man who saw that his

cause was lost. To talk about war with Germany was a danger to peace and a disgrace to British politics.

IMPARTIAL SECOND CHAMBER.

LONDON, January 8. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, addressing his constituents at Berwick, favoured an impartial Second Chamber, amenable to tho opinion of the country. • THE FIRST QUESTION. LONDON, January 8. Mr Winston Churchill, President of the Board of Trade, who is seeking reelection for Dundee, in the course of a speech to tho electors, said the Lords' veto was tho first question to bo considered. Then, as the discussion vipon tho character of tho Second Chamber had begun, it must prove fatal to tho hereditary principle. THE COLONIES AND THE LORDS. OLD COLONIAL'S OFFER. LONDON, January 8. Tho "Manchester Guardian" and other- Liberal newspapers, quoting Australian newspapers, prove that colonial opinion is opposed to the claim of tho House of Lords to force a referendum. Mr Francis Dormer, ■ writing as an old colonist to "The Times," doubts whether public feeling overseas supports the new departures in the Liberal policy. Ho offers to pay tho cost of a referendum by cable to every daily paper in the Empire, if any Liberal is willing to pay the expenses should tho raphes prove that tho colonies favour the Conservatives.

"Tho Times," commenting on Mr Dormer's challenge, declares that colonial opinion need not bo ascertained. Broadly, the parties overseas support their British equivalents. It is unimportant what opinion one part of the. Empire holds regarding tho internal affairs of another part, but it is important to know its opinion regarding Imperial questions. ' The paper adds that in the matter of preference the Dominions overwhelmingly support the Unionist policy. "SUBSTITUTE FOR ROTTEN EGGS." LORD LANSDOWNE'S LATEST. (Received January 9, 8 p.m.) LONDON, January 8. I Lord Lansdowne, leader of the Unionists in the House of Lords, protested against the prejudice and class hatred which the Radicals were endeavouring to set up as a modern substitute for the rotten eggs of former times. No British interest was safe, said Lord Lansdowne, if the Lords' were only empowered to delay for a few months the passage of Bills sent up. Lord Lansdowne said the Liberals, filled with aspirations for peace, allowed naval construction to lapse, and he believed it was virtually impossible to overtako it. In 1909, said the Unionist leader, six millions sterling had changed hands on the estate market. How, then could there be monopoly with such transactions every day ? ,