THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10103, 22 March 1909, Page 2

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

GOVEUXMKNT (lEEE It TW'n "Hit XUI'GIITS." By Telegraph. (I'Vinoi Unit Own Ooiiiikm'iiM'V-S'i.l Wellington, .Stallß 1 i interview- will) our roplMill! to-day, the I'liine Minister slnlr.l Hill inianiiiiiiy "I both sides; which lliMd debate ill the British House of ('« had disclosed with regard b. Il»';w of Ihc situation between the Mnllim ami Germany in so I'nr a.; mil' mnl ccndcncy is concerned cannot lie ml* prctc.d. 'No ro is Icl'l- lor .l.m Mli England leek that, her Kupmniu'V»« seas is now seriously llimilnn'il If amazing naval activity of lint llw dockyard. It appears dear llial thoughtful men in Great, Britain mw that the Umpire must set ils.lt will utmost delerininali mil, if nm sacrifice to maintain the naval WipM upon which not only our limim national greatness depends. Tim I* lying upon Ihe Iti'ilihh lull I«» expenditure is at present cimiiiii* every loyal subject of the (Wviiiiiml that in. a time of crisis III." »' culled upon to help the Mollierlntul more than words. New /calami is of past proofs of her loyally t" llii'N Country and stands to-day in the rf lion of British people as i mf ™ in the. British dominions for iMJ™ loyal response when the neeiwiitii*" Knipirc call for it. The .Prime Minister said llml m circumstances the Government '», Zealand felt its obligations In us* l .Motherland, and a Cabind- till! inornin;' hud iiiianiniouslv :c;i''m " Prime Minister's proposal (lint tlt«' try should olfer lo defray Ihe c*tj in'imediatc building and iiniinitt « lirsf-cl.'iss battleship of the latest W if subsequent events show il b> l*» siirv would provide the cost- "f »f warship of the same type. Sir j' said that he had will, this * his Excellency Ihc Governor, nrol * Secretary of' State lor I lie enlratH Ml'fcrnnnu. lie I bought il »»■ when any wailing or hailing »" «' of the New Zealand Government enormously lessen the value of nnv anee we might eventually give, iitid| confident a mutter touching <i»r * existence would be treated as iilkiW! consideration an dwouhl appeal )«' section of the community as « «S f " proper thing to do. Apart fr * elfcet of this olfer it- had t" I""' liered that even upon (lie gr«iiui<lfl« interest il is amply jusfilicd, siiwe" country the value or our tuiti»ii»lf wealth' is now nearly JJ6OO,OOO,OW' ling, and Ibis largely de,,",,,!* *» British Xuvv for its security ami *' The. Prime Minister added *, dc.lermination bad not been liiirr« rived at. He had been l"V"lvi» whole question for some day.- I* 1 ' after anxious and careful comi-lrw >» brought it before some of liis J* on Saturday morning last. A ll ters were present at the incelii'l! Cabinet 10-dav, when the mallei' »™, with, and as' he had already "If'' proposal had U'cn cordially «» (1 * inously assented to.