Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1903. THE NAVY IN REQUEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7444, 27 April 1903, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1903. THE NAVY IN REQUEST.

Thk urgency of the question of naval defence is scarcely realised by many colonists. They arc tolerably clear about the necessity for keeping tho trado routes of the Empire open and clear ; anil to that end they admit that the navy must be kept tJ'licicnt and ready for service. But they havo very little idea of the tremendous importance of tho question to England herself. Tho matter of the North Sen, however, should sulliciently inform them on the subject. Not three hundred miles from the eastern coast of England—that coast which the Northmen used to ravage at thoir pleasure— tho Germans are constructing a huge naval station and fortified harbour. And if they would not sco tho eastern shores of England again a prey to possible invaders, tho Government must meet this now German enterprise with a counter movement. The proposal in England now is to placo a licet in the North Sea, and establish a naval base at Hull or Yarmouth, or ono of tho Scottish Firths, also to fortify tho mouths of the Tyne, tho Ilumbcr and the Firth of Forth; and the idea has tho hearty support of many eminent statesmen, as well as distinguished naval authorities. Tho mere vision of a powerful German squadron occupying the North Sea is of itself sulliciently disquieting; but when it is taken in conjunction with Russian designs in the Mediterranean, and the ever-present possibilities of international rupture, which might result in more than ono powerful force being suddenly in array against England, it assumes an aspect altogether alarming. We may rest assured that tho need of an immensely powerful navy as a mcro guarantee of safety is fully realised at Home, for papers oven of tho most radical views are quite alivo to it. Mr George Meredith, tho popular novelist put the case very well in a letter that was read at the recent meeting in London :—" We should bo grateful to tho Germans for thoir crusty candour in telling us of their designs upon us. They stir a somnolent people, and, without stooping to regard them as enemies, wo can accept them as urgently stimulating rivals, whoso aim is to be tho first of tho world Powers, chiefly at our expense. The Kaiser, an estimable gentleman, but not yet a fully tried Sovereign, has drawn in a deep breath of briny air and would givo it out in warships. Germany, once foremost among tho nations for intellectual achievements, now spouts pan-Gcnuan-ism over Europe and seeks to command the North Sea. For our part, we have only to take the warning thoy givo us, and bo a;*." ice ') stationed, und on the alert. That is tho way l" 1 vmot'vo peace. For pan-Germanism challenges _-- arj .y foes, and a Power ambitious to be preponderant in a great navy as well as a great army will find its adversaries within besides those that press around it. A slumbering England will offer it the chauco it craves before tho inevitable financial strain brings it to tho ground ; a watchful England may look on calmly for that certain issue."

Ouit local contemporary, in a two-column article, endeavours to show that our expressed views on municipal tinanco have been misleading. He quotes our article on " Municipal Revelation," which is the lirst reliable public statement of facts which has been made on this subject, aud wliich is one that neither he nor tho Ratepayers' Association has thought proper to givo to tho public. But whilo ho quot.s part of tho article in question which bear against the lato Council, ho . omits othor portions of our remarks ! which aro in its favour. For example, i we said:— ( " The Council kept its ordinary oxpendi- , ture within due bounds as regards certain ( stock lines, — viz., salaries, rents, sundries, fire prevention, charitable aid, licensing, , interest, miscellaneous, lark, and streets , and roads. It deserves great credit ou these items, for the aggregate of them was ' well within its published estimate. - Why did not our contemporary ro- , produce this portion of our article, which , is absolutely essential to placing tho caso t fairly boforo the public. Again, wo said ; [ "There aro other Accounts, such as Water \ and Drainage, Library, etc., which are in i credit; and the credit balances of these U" othor Accounts has been keeping down tho t Bank overdraft." ' s

Why did not our contemporary quoto ; this paragraph, which explains the mistake made by tho Council in collecting | too much money on the Water and Drainago and Library Accounts, ; and too liltlo on the Ordinary Account. Our lirst duty is to the ratepayers, and ; wo have frankly told them, as far as lay in our power, tho truth, tho wholo truth, and nothing but tho truth. Wo still advocate tho re-election to tho Council of Messrs James Elliot, J. C. Ewiugton, Edgar E. Eton, and John Hossoy—-not that thoy havo been infallible, or may not have made mistakes during tho past year; but because thoy have run a straight course, havo honestly endeavoured to keep down expenditure, and havo displayed an intelligent interost iv the affairs of the Borough. To put in ! their places new and entirely inexperienced men, who would almost inevitably make ii fresh crop of mistakes, would be, in our opinion, a grave error of judgmont on tho part of tho ratepayers. It is not so easy as somo people may imagine it to bo to run a Borough Council. Most men start with excellent iiitontion.; hut soon l'md themselves quite out of their depth. Ono man with experience is undoubtedly worth two men without experience ; and tho ratepayers should be cautious against relying too much on thoso who, obviously, cannot bo otherwise than novices in municipal matters. Wo must also point out that subsidies lo the amount of J. l.'.K> woro duo from tho Government upon last year's account, and if these had been paid prior to March ,'ll.st, tho increase of overdraft would have been reduced to X'oOO ; but, as a matter of book-keeping, tho unpaid subsidies cannot bo included in last year's return. Against this increase of ,£.">oli, the town may fairly credit tho late Council with tho following benefits :— (1) A sum of .(.'(11)7 spent on streets and roads in excess of the previous year; cJ) An extra sum of £10 expended on the Park ; (3) An extra sum of £9l> spent on stables; (-1) £\32 spent on tho upkeep of tho drainage works, and (*i) tho Hand Rotunda. We repeat our liual judgment expressed in our issue of Saturday last — ('/.v., that the town is quite strong enough to stand tho present strain ; but that better financial methods aro desirable in the future.

Tur. Diocesan Trustees are making an absurd mistake in holding on to half tho frontage of St. Matthew's Church acre. The error arises purely from a want of local knowledge. The piece of land in question is absolutely useless, excepting for tho erection of diops and offices. The Trustees have spoiled the frontage as a thing of beauty and joy for over (/.<•., a dust and waste-paper bin), by sacrificing half the frontage. The remaining moiety, in its present condition, is merely an eyesore. If the Trustees are unwilling to como up and look at tho property, it might be well to furnish them with photographs of tho scene and a plan of tho locality. No doubt the Trustees mean well ; but it is hardly a case of " Pickwick and Principle," for already the principle has gone by the board, and the remainder of the lot should be utilised for its evident proper function--or, if retained, converted into an ideal stand for a Punch and Judy Show.

O.N' -May Ist Mr Seddon is to havo another ovation to mark the completion of his tenth year as Premier. Already his friends are beginning to slobber over him ; and, probably, in his inner heart, he would be thankful for somebody who would venture to kick him. He must, in spite of an iron digestion, bo somewhat nauseated with tho jam with which ho is everlastingly dosed. We almost wonder that ho does not bolt from tho Empire City, and leave one of his boots iv tho lobby of tho Government Buildings for tho uso of tho faithful lickers of his party. His best friends are not those who toll him that ho is a God, that he rules over New Zealand by a sort of Divine right, and that ho —and not the Cream Separator—has mado the fortunes of the small farmer. Mr Seddon is not exactly an Atlas who bears the vault of heaven on his shoulders : but a clever pushing common-place mortal who possesses muiy manly virtues—aud a few obvious failings.