A NAVAL TAX.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13920, 24 March 1909, Page 5

A NAVAL TAX.

INVERCARGJLL, March 23. Mr. T. D. Pearce, .president of the Southland branch of the Navy Le»t?ue, said he had not been ..prepared zo hear that there was a crisis to warrant the sudden expenditure by New Zealand of one and a-half to two millions. He could only conclude that such an unprecedented and unconstitutional act as that of voting nearly two millions without consulting the people's representative, a step tantamount to raising a loan, an4Jncu*rijig....a.n._._smnual charge of sixty to seventy thousand for interest, was warranted, by, the situation. Nothing else) could justify the action of Cabinet. Tne Southland branch of the League always advocated a larger subsidy, so he/thought they would support the Premier. Mr. Pearce favours the institution of at "naval ta*/ 1 so v as to educate the people to a sense of t their responsibility. The Mayor, Mr. Sc&ndrett, said tersely: "There are times when those m authority must act without, authority. The Prime Minister and- the Ministry as a whole should anticipate the judgment "ot the countiy in any great crisis." After reviewing the situation with Germany, he added: "I think the action of the Government . should be supported by Parliament and the people."