PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9522, 21 April 1909, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

FROM' YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) ■ DUNEDIN'S VOICE. _ We are not without hope that Monday night's emphatic protest, repeated as it soon will be in . the ministerial presence, may be successful in regard to its immediate object, and that the monstrous proposal to break 'faith with the-Hoxburgh settlers may shortly be relegated to the limbo ; of abandoned fantasies. Tne oVerflow attendance, the notably reasonable yet vigorous and uncompromising tone of the speeches, the tefling array of solid fact and argument, the strong manifestation of sober, but resolute feeling; were all in accord with 'the best traditions of the Dunedin of an ' earlier day the palmy times when the will of the city and province was hot. lightly disregarded in the national councils. — - Dunedin "Star.'.' ;■■•-■,. ■•'• : THE INDIGNATION MEETING. To the cumulative evidence furnished by meetings that have preceded it, the Dunedin public ' gathering of protest will add sufficient weight, we hope to force on Sir Joseph Ward the conclusion that he has made an error of judgment in imagining that Otago will accept quietly and tamely an arbitrary ; unjust and illogical decision, supported by ostensible reasons of a flimsy arid unsubstantial -^ character. -A " Otaeo Daily Times." , EMPIRE AND NAVY. One thing which 'our own Government should not wait for a conference to make clear is that New Zealand's Dreadnought was intended to represent an addition to the British naval programme and not a mere contribution to the revenue. The erratic Mr Churchill has correctly seized the spirit , of the offer, while the levelheaded "Westminster Gazette" has c ? T i.°i nc6 i_ gone asfc ™y in urging that while the country welcomed the offers made by the colonies, there is no reason why these should lead us to. build a fleet larger than is required to secure our safety." The final decision must, of course, rest with .the British Government, but the object. of , the gift was undoubtedly, as Mr ©hurchil says, to ensure an addition to, the fleet, and his colleagues should be so informed. — " Evening Post." . • COMPULSORY TRAINING. It is. obvious that with a much larger number of men undergoing training, it would be necessary to- hold more encampments than at present, since an entire provincial force could no longer go, into camp at once. The greater Frequency of encampments .would have a beneficial effect upon t!he permanent staff,, who would gain more experience <tf the:fa;andl^ menY * — 'Dbminion." " . . . v