AUSTRALIAN DREADNOUGHT PROPOSAL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12498, 26 March 1909, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN DREADNOUGHT PROPOSAL.

PROGRESS OF THE SUBSCRIPTION. PUBLIC MEETING. Sydney, March 25. Dreadnought promises now total £60,000. A meeting has been convened by the Lord Mayor at the" Town Hall tonight for tho purpose of launching a Dreadnought fund, and thero are promises of a monster demonstration. The *Herald" says: If this meeting and one convened in Melbourne be I enthusiastic and unanimous, we do not despair of .Mr Fisher allowing popular feeling to be expressed through a constitutional channel. If he fails to do so, he loses the best opportunity Australia has had of vindicating a claim to have a share in the government of the Empire, and of ! displaying unity of Empire to the world. But should he fail, thero is no reason why New South Wales and Victoria should not do as much as New Zealand. . Brisbane, March 25. The Mayor, replying to a request from the Stock Exchange to call a Dreadnought meeting, said he did not think he was justified in doing so, as it 'would belike inaugurating a panic movement. Perth, March 25. ' The local branch of the Australian Natives' Association has resolved that, the presentation of a Dreadnought would be out of place at the present time, as the money available should bo devoted to the Australian navy. Melbourne, March 25. Members of the State Ministry favour concerted action by the States- in the Dreadnought scheme.