GERMAN CONSUL'S VIEWS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12496, 24 March 1909, Page 2

GERMAN CONSUL'S VIEWS.

i. . Auckland, March 23. Mr Carl Seegner, the" Consul 'for Germany in New Zealand, ;was interviewed this evening regarding the offer made by the Government to provide a battleship. "I know nothing of battleships," he said, "they are not in my line." On being pressed to state his views on the general subject of naval supremacy in the light of recent developments at Home., the German Consul said, "I have seen many scares. There have been Japanese, Russian, Dutch, Boer, and all kiuds of scares. ',. I have ; got used to them. I do not believe them." : Mr Seegner was asked — \Vhat view do you. take of the suggestion that Germany has designs in connection with -the Tacifip p TVIr Seegner replied : "Dr. li-wini the German Gonsul-Gen-eral in Australia, has already stated that tie spheres of influence in- /the Pacific, as between Germany and Great Britain were fixed long ago."' Speaking further, Mr Seegner expressed the. opinion that the press of both c'oun^ tries was a-good deal to blame' for fermenting such ""scares" -as at presont existed. "In" short," he added, "the whole thing is a fuss aboiitnothing."More he would not say, dismissing an inquiry- as to his opinion of the action of the Cabinet in "offering a battleship to the Old Country^ with a remark to bhe effect that that was a private-mat-ter.- -' ; -' ' - " -• . .-■■- ; . '-■- ::