THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9522, 21 April 1909, Page 3

THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER.

_* !— DISCUSSED BY THE FARMERS? -.■'■'■: UNION. - PRIME MINISTER'S ACTION APPROVED. " THE RIGHT THING AT THE PLIGHT TIME." At the conclusion of the ordinary business at the meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the New' Zealand Farmers' Union this afternoon, the offer of a Dreadnought to the Home Government by the New Zealand Government was discussed. The matter was introduced by Mr G. W. Leadley, who ipoved, amidst the applause of the meiftbers present-—" That, recognising 'the necessity of England maintaining her naval supremacy, in order to keep open our trade routes for the safety of sea-bourne commerce, this executive hereby express its entire . approval of Sir Joseph Ward's spirited and timejy offer to assist the Home Government." In moving the motion, Mr Leadley said thas he hoped that the matter would be disoussed earnestly,, and that it would be lifted to a higher level than it had been, placed by some people in the city. It was well known that, he was not a supporter of the present Government, but in the matter of an offer of : a Dreadnought he was entirely with the | Prime Minister. It Was a matter that ; concerned the farming community of I tho whole of New Zealand. They were j dependent on the open sea for the interchange of their commerce. Any defence of New Zealand, to be of any use, must be made at the other end of the world. It would be all very well for them to shed the last drop of blood in the 'defence of the shores of the dominion, but if England's naval supremacy was gone it. would be useless. They all desired peace, and the naval supremacy of England was the best means of mainearning peace. He was pleased at the offer, because the Farmers' Union had been one of the first bodies to suggest the increase of the naval subsidy. Three years ago .the Union had suggested it, and the following year it had affirmed the suggestion, and last year the Union had approved of the action of the Government m increasing the subsidy. They would be told that the civil liberties had been interfered with by ihe .unconstitutional act of Sir Joseph Ward, but- he would rather have his civil liberties interfered with by Sir Joseph Ward than by a squadron of German battleships on the dominion's coasts. Mr Wilfred Hall seconded the motion. He said that there seemed to-be in New Zealand a party that could be called. the " Peaee-at-any-price Party." As far as he could judge, there seemed little doubt that Germany was contemplating an attack on England.* She was -building big fleets, and, it would be idiotic for England to abstain from preparation for a struggle. The offer made by the Prime Minister had not been unconstitutional. The money had not been paid; only, an offer had been made, and it was well known that the offer would jneed to be ratified by Parliament. The Prime Minister had made the offer confident that, the people would back him up. It was the best thing that Sir Joseph Ward had ever done. Mr G. Sheat said that they had to consider that the Union was practically binding the whole of the farming community in Canterbury. Personally he felt that the Prime Minister had acted correctly, but Yit would have been an easy matter to have obtained the consent of the members of Parliament. If Sir Joseph Ward had nad some inside information regarding the situation, his action had been justified, but if not it- was open to severe censure. The question was not whether the nation was menaced, but whether the, constitution deserved more consideration. There was no doubt that England had to watch Germany, and if the 1 offer of a Dread- , nought would purchase peace it was a cheap insurance. , In view of the facte N that had come out later, however, it would seem that Sir Joseph had been entirely right. He had done- the right thing at the. right time, and,, though he (Mr Sheat) was in opposition to the Government, he approved of the offer, Mr Richard Evans said that the effect of the offer, whatever the motive , that prompted it, had been to show the world that tne colonies were prepared to help the Motherland. The best man in a difficulty was the man who gave quickly. There was no doubt that the Opposition in. England was trying to hamper the present Government, but from the 'latest papers it would seem that the Dreadnought offered by New Zealand would be, when it was built, of a vastly improved type, and probably twice as strong as the present ships. The Germans were good colonists, but he did not wish to be governed by them, and he •repeated that, whatever the motive that prompted Sir Joseph Ward to make the offer, it had been the right ijbing at the right time. Mr Sheat said that some people in Christchurch had made " conglomerate asses " of themselves in their attitude over th© matter. The offer had done the dominion's credit at Home a great deal of good, but the cablegram sent by the member for Christchurch North had belittled the dominion, made it appear ridiculous, and in a way helped to 6poil the credit e,f the dominion in the eyes of the London financiers. A member : It has had absolutely nc effect. Mr Leadley said that when the offer wa§ made both Sir , Joseph .Ward and Mr Asquith had known that it was subject to ratification by the New Zealand Parliament; they were not , novices in political matters. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was decided to forward a copy of it to the Prime Minister."