CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12239, 12 June 1909, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

NATIONAL DEFENCE

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—lf, after the meeting Mr McNab addressed, anything was needed to confirm tho fact that enthusiasm had been aroused in Wanganui, last night's meeting in the Drill Hall gave that _ confirmation. Those who attended did so, not with any view of entertainment, but with tho calm, sober thought that each vvas a member of the Empire which may (should I. write must?) soon be -fighting for its existance. Mr Hatrick in lus stirring address' made it plain to each one tliat a stern duty devolved upon those who enjoy liberty under the British Flag —to keep that flag flying. Tho command of the sea is absolutely imperative. The inhabitants of the United Kingdom must be fed and with the seaway closed starvation would face tho millions who rely on "food stuffs brought from all parts of the world. | Our navy must be,strong—our shore defences, with which the meetings referred to were concerned, must also be in , readiness to instantly act. Sentimental talk is useless. Something more than the ability to hit a bulls-eye at 100 yards is called for, the hitting—from a rifle— will be needed at a range nearer 2000 than; 100 yards. The preparation for this ability only —to hit a mark at so long a range is what is needed, as well as other preparation. It is however not of this detail I would write, but rather of something involving national action against what threatens to become a common foe.

May 1, sir, for a few moments, write, on the reason why I employ so drastic a term as " Common Foe." It is used to denote our (Britishers') neighbour— Germany . Unless with the ultimate object of attack on a nation near to their base, why should the Germans be feverishly rushing on with their naval programme —their battleship building? Is' it for defence? Hardly. Is it to attack the United States, or Japan, or with the idea of becoming masters of all the French ports? It can not be deemed likely. Then why are they spending so much energy and money, the latter their country's earnings? Only one answer can be surmised—the desire to obtain command of the North Sea and the trade which would follow such a command. And which Power is threatened ? There can be but one answer— Ours. As a nation we have now all effective means of curtailing Germany's power to build ships, for it must be remembered that strong as ships are when built, the very sordid detail of finding money to pay for them must be undertaken by any Government. The means I refer to is that passive means (really active in operation) adopted by the Chinese very lately against the United States —Boycott. Cease to buy or _ use German goods. Britons, this this is no partx cry, no wild cat scheme, but a real effective weapon we possess. A tariff bar against our trade competitors (those are they against whom wars are waged, or put another way, it is, in nearly every instance, the question of some very material interest, no matter how represented, by territory or otherwise, that gives rise to war.) It is no new proposition; That astute British Statesman, Joseph Chamberlain, advocated it. All sorts of trade "deals" and s bargains, contracts and the like, would necessarily be effected, but if fight we must tken a disturbance of individual contracts is better than a possible break which a war would cause. Let us come right home to this —the farthest point from the world's metropolis of the British Dominions—Wanganui. What do we find the conditions are in this town of Wanganui in respect to goods made in Germany P And, mark this-,-"on which Germans have received, and are, for continued .orders,'.receiving a profit." We use'here German electroplate ware, Gorman glassware, German toys, lamps, tools, fencing wire, postcards, and, irt machinery, lithograph, bookbinding/ ruling machines', and many of other descriptions. Then in clothing and such Tike, ladies' underwear of all descriptions, fancy combs, 'feather stitch braid, men's fancy vests, and even such articles as oilcloth, dog, chains, musical instruments^ all ."made"in Germany." All unconsciously, women are great offenders in respect to buying and using German-made goods. I do not desire to cast the least blame on them for this, as it is impossible to tell from the appearance of many of the articles offered and purchased where they were, made—and herein it might with fair reason become a question for this Dominion, at, any rate, to insist, by the aid of the Customs, that every article (not alone the flimsy cardboard-box covering) be marked plainly "made in Germany"—-if in that country it vvas made—many English-made articles are so marked. Why not the German? Emphasis is afforded to the argument of don t buy German goods by the facts' disclosed in the following figures:—lmports from the United Kingdom for 1898 represented £5,148,833, for 1907 represented £10,278,019. Of the latter amount £351,634 is represented by German imports. Why? There must be a fair profit on this turnover of even so small a proportion of the (about) ten and three-quarter millions as £351,634. Why let the Germans have it to swell their funds for building ships—to use (assumedly) in aggressive action against our nation ? Is there wonder why Joseph Chamberlain advocated preferential tariff? Turn to the facts disclosed by figures showing imports to the Commonwealth of Australia, and to the United Kingdom for-further evidence for action in this matter. I do not quote those figures here, as my letter is long enough as it is. Later, with your permission, sir, I will return to the subject. In the ■ meanwhile, let us. get our navy and our land forces ready for an. emergency which the best informed Britishers of to-day predict is at hand; but, m the meanwhile^ don't buy German goods.—l am, etc., BRITISHER. Wanganui, 11th June, 1909. :