THE YELLOW PERIL.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XV, Issue 4087, 13 November 1911, Page 5

THE YELLOW PERIL.

SPEECH BY SIR J. WARD. DEFENCE QUESTION REVIEWED. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. The Premier, jsir Joseph Ward, addressed about 700 people at the Bluff last evening and was warmly received The Mayor presided. On tlie subject of defence Sir Joseph touched new matter. He contradicted the statement that the Defebhe Department was compelling boys and cadets to go into camp with men. This was worse than untrue, because the Opposition knew that under the Territorial system the cadets were not under the jurisdiction of the Defence Department, but controlled by education authorities and their own teachers were their officers. It had also been said that the senior cadets (15 to 18), should not be allowed to go into camp with men. The proposal to have boys go into camp was not contemplated by the Bill. These statements were a colossal attempt to snatch votes from the mothers of boys. This question should be placed above party tactics. Referring to the Dreadnought, the Premier spoke of Air Massey’s assertions concerning the autocratic nature of his (Sir Joseph Ward’s) doings. There were CO or 70 Opposition candidates saying at present that he ought to he put out of office on account of his action regarding the Dreadnought. He had consulted Parliament and his colleagues, and the presentation of the Dreadnought had been made subject to ratification by Parliament. The Opposition now stated that they objected to the way in which the proposal had been made and that the honour and prestige of the country would have been jeopardised if they had voted against it. Sir Joseph Ward declared that every member of Parliament could have voted against the proposal (without loss of prestige to the country) had he so desired because he had left the way open. Alembers of the Opposition had voted for the proposal, because they knew what a grand thing it was for the country and for the Empire, and wanted to have a share in the kudos of passing it. Tf the proposal had not been made till Parliament sat, the effect would have been lost. Being made when it was it caused other nations to realise that for the first time in the history of Great Britain, the Dominions beyond the seas were knit firmly with the Alotherland.

The Premier went on to speak of the proximity of Australia and New Zealand to China, of the awakrning in that country, and of the imminent danger o f ‘‘The \ T ellow Peril.” The Pacific squadron had been recalled to Home waters and the shadow of the great coloured nation was looming over our country, and if we were not reasonably equipped within our own borders and had not tlie protection of the British navy we would find ourselves at the mercy of China, which had been equipping during the last ten years, and was expected by the authorities to be within the next ten years even greater than Japan. Would anyone contend that if China were as well equipped as Japan there was no danger to New Zealand. In the meantime to preserve the peace of the world (and the Empire) the British nation must lead in armaments and navj . The quesion of defence was above party and he appealed to the people to give the present defence scheme a fair trial. A vote of thanks and confidcn.ce was accorded.