THE OLD COUNTRY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 26, 30 June 1909, Page 5

THE OLD COUNTRY.

Great British Airship. The Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee state that an airship of 227.500 cubic feet is approaching completion. and it is hoped to sail it from Paris to London before the Parliamentary session concludes. The committee has secured the option of purchase of the vessel for the nation. She will have two propeller motors, each of 220 horse-power, will carry petrol for a 700 miles journey, will be able to accommodate 25 passengers, and have a speed of from 35 to 40 miles an hour. The “Daily Mail” offers £5OOO to build a garage to enable the airship to remain in England until the test. In addition ta the huge airship now building, over which the British Government has an option of purchase, Vickers, Son and Maxim are preparing to construct a huge airship at Barrow. The “Daily Mail’s” offer of £5OOO wwards an airship garage to enable the first airship to remain in England until after the tests, has been accepted, and the work of building commences immediately.

The BritishGovermnent is fully alive to the necessities of the situation, and, face to face with the problem of aviation, neither British nor naval officers are depressed; they believe that “we shall come out on top.” So far, little that can be described as practical lias been accomplished, save by the Wright brothers. The Navy will devote itself especially to dirigible balloons; aeroplanes will be the special province of the Army authorities. The naval officer is essentially a practical person, a handy man with a curl of gold on the cuff of his sleeve. Now that money will be forthcoming, he will set to work, and there will lie the scientific committee just appointed by the Govern ment to deal with all theoretical points in mathematics, meteorology, and kindred subjects. The Admiralty have already selected a suitable place for building dirigibles, and for testing their capabilities for the work they are to be put to. They have, in fact, already begun the construction of several of these airships, and hope to find a type that will lie useful in half a gale. The aeroplane, the Admiralty thinks, will be for the Army, the dirigible for the Navy, and, though Britain may be late in starting, the responsible officers do not fear for that.

An Immense Work. Cabinet has decided to overhaul the drainage, and reorganise the water supply in London. The work will take 15 years to complete, and a loan of £10,000,600 will be issued. Birthday Homan, In connection with the official celebration of His Majesty’s birthday, a number of honours have been conferred. No new peers have been created. The list includes the following: — BARONETS. Twelve baronets are created, including— Mr E. H. HOLDEN, M.P., Liberal, managing director of the Loudon City and Midland Bank. Mr T. W. NUSSEY, M.P., Liberal barrister-at-law. Mr C. D. ROSE, M.P., Liberal, formerly a partner in the American banking firm of Morton, Rose and Co. Mr T. T. L. SCARISBRICK, M.P., Liberal. Mr ARTHUR OSMOND -WILLIAMS, M.l\ Liberal. Mr ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSON, M.P., Liberal, partner in Balfour, Williamson and Co., merchants, Liverpool and London, and a director of the Royal Insurance Co. Sir DYCE DUCKWORTH, consulting physician at St. Bartholomew's Hospital (created a knight in 1886). Mr H. LONGMAN, a member of the firm of Longmans, Green and Co., pub lishors. Dr. HENRY MORRIS, President of th* Royal College of Surgeons of Eng land. PRIVY COUNCILLORS. Five gentlemen are called to His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, including—

Sir HUDSON E. KEARLEY, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade since 1905. Mr JAMES STUART, M.P., founder of the system of University extension teaching. Mr JOHN XAVIER MERRIMAN. Premier of Cape Colony since 1908. NEW KNIGHTS. Thirty-five gentlemen are gazetted as Knights Bachelor, ineluding— Mr HENRY W. LUCY, ‘-Toby, M.P.,” of “Punch.” Mr FRANCIS GALTON, F.R.S., scientist. Mr ARTHUR W. PINERO, dramatist. Mr H. BEERBOHM TREE, actor. Mr F. J. CAMPBELL. Principal of th* Royal Normal College and Academy of Music for the Blind. Mr ALEXANDER SMITH, founder o.f the Boys’ Brigade. Mr EDWIN PEARS, "Daily News” correspondent at Constantinople. Mr C. H. RASON. Agent-General in London for West Australia. Mr JUSTICE A. H. SIMPSON, ActingChief Justice of New South Wales. Mr WALTER KENNAWAY. C.M.G.. late secretary to the Department of the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. Mr JUSTICE T. A’BECKETT. Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. K.C.M.G. The following are to be Knights Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George:— MAJOR-GENERAL HARRY BARRON, late commander of the Royal Artillery at Malta, who has been appointed Governor of Tasmania. Mr JOHN GEORGE DAVIES. Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. 1.5.0. To be Companions of the Imperial Service Order: — COLONEL R. J. COLLINS, late secretary to the New Zealand Treasury and Paymaster-General. Mr WILLIAM C. KENSINGTON, Undersecretary for Lands and Immigration in New Zealand. Mr JAMES K. LOGAN, late Superintendent of Electric Lines in New Zealand. Mr EDWARD MARCH. Fiji. Mr KENNETH SKELTON ANDERSON, chairman of the Orient Steamship Company.

Victoria and Albert Mnseum. King Edward yesterday opened the Victor ia and Albert Museum, the ceremony being a brilliant one. His Majesty knighted Mr. Cecil Smith, director, and created Mr. Austin Webb, architect, a Companion of the Bath. The King, in opening the Museum, emphasised the interest taken by both Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort in applied and decorative art

Empire Defence. The Press Conference, which returned to London from its tour of the Provinces and Scotland on June 26 concluded its adjourned discussion on the defence problem, and some very important Speeches were made. Lord Esher, a permanent member of the Committee of Defence, presided. Lord Charles Beresford, dealing with the problem of how help should lx* given, said, “Don't let us be in too great a hurry, and don’t let us be too long.” Defence should be of a kind that it was instantly able to be turned into attack. Standardisation was allimportant, whereby temporary exchanges of officers and men and ships was possible throughout the Empire. The weakest j»art of the present system was the defence of the trade routes. The colonies might undertake the overseas stations, which, owing to some mad infatuation, had been abandoned after large sums had been spent. The colonies must act in war time under a great strategical bureau, which should be at the Admiralty, but which was not there now. The Empire had much leeway to make up, owing to deferred liabilities, but it was possible to make U p the leeway if the question were regarded from an Imperial and national standpoint, and made free from the taint of party. The people of the nations loathed and detested war. and if the Empire were properly prepared there would lie no War. Lord Beresford added that the do min*

ant note of all the statesmen addressing the Conference had been a note of grave anxiety, and this had i.ot been expressed without reason.

“In my opinion,” continued Lord Beresford, “the reason is that they know we are not prepared. The colonial offers to build Dreadnoughts are the severest condemnation possible of Great Britain's Imperial defence policy. The overseas nations have recognised what Great Britain ought to have recognised earlier, that Great Britain had arrived at a time when it was impossible to maintain the twoPower standard without the help of thb overseas dominions.

Lord Esher said that, thanks to Mr Chamberlain, Col. Seeley ( Secretary forthe Colonies), Lord Rosebery, and the late Mr Cecil Rhodes, the conception of Empire to-day was wholly different to that of the seventies. The difficulties began when they passed from belief to action. The first step necessary, proceeded Lord Esher, was to move slowly and prudently towards an Imperial Navy. This meant that British officers and sailors all over the world must not only be willing to fight, but be trained to fight side by side in the same fleet. The delegates would bo wise if they limited consideration to what was practicable within ten years, and thus clear the ground to enable statesmen to achieve practical measures. The dominions must gain experience themselves. Their true guides must not be the Ad-, miralty, but their own officers, who had, learned lessons in their own fleet.

The military problem eould be summed up in three words, “a general staff,” whereby the personnel and material for war would be standardised throughout the Empire. Defence meant not only a navy and army, but the organisation in time of peace of all our resources, financial and other, for the protection of the people. He hopefully looked forward to the time when the Committee on Imperial Defence would be strengthened by the addition of overseas representatives.

General French supported Mr. Haldane's idea of a uniformity in military methods by means of a general staff. He dwelt on the importance of secrecy in war time, and appealed to the Press to help in this direction. Mr. T. Temperley proposed a resolution that national defence for the Empire was the most urgent question of the dav.

Mr. W. T. Stead (editor of the “Review of Reviews”) made an impassioned plea for peace. He declared that the Press of the Empire should above all keep a civil tongue towards the rest of the world. It was all very well for an Australian delegate to come and say national defence is most urgent. The most urgent question for him is to fill Australia with white people.

Mr. Macdonald (Toronto) described the resolution as feckless, thewless, and pithless. Mr. Cunningham (“Melbourne Argus”) declared it a superfluity. Mr. T. Fink (“Melbourne Herald”) expressed hearty apreeiation of British statesmanship.

The meeting finally decided to put no resolution on record. The Conference has now closed.