Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
NEW ZEALAND HOTLY LOYAL
Zeal Shown in the Offer to Give Eng
land a Dreadnaught.
VISIT OF YANKEE FLEET CAUSE
Patriotism that VIII Cost $40 a Head
for Every Man, woman and
child in the Country, but
Colony Can stand IL.

Colony Can stand IL.
The acceptance by Great Britain OF the
offer Of New Zealand to build a Dread
nought OF the largest type as a help TO the
mother country In the race ia surpass
G~ermany's naval program means an ex-
pense to New Zealand OF about $40 for
every man. woman and child OF that
country. The total population of New
Zealand is almost exactly 100000. The
original Dreadnought cost about 100000.
An improved one will probably cost
$1,000 moro.
To any ordinary country Of a million in
habitants an expenditure OF SO each for
some special object, all to be paid within
two years-for II will take that time to
build a Dreadnought-would be a grievous
burden. New Zealand can stand It prob
ably better than any other country in the
world, for It js the richest country in
average wealth.
The average . wealth OF New Zealand.
counting every one. even the babies and
Maoris. OF whom there are 5000. is nearly
1850. The average wealth of the United
states is estimated at a good deal less
than 1900 an inhabitant. That of New
Zealand is said to be the highest in the
world.
The New Zealand creed in respect to
wealth was laid down by the late Premier
Mr.. Seldom, regarded as next to the great
est man, sir George Grey, who ever ruled
in that domain. Mr.. Seldom said:
Gospel in New Zealand.
81 believe that the cardinal aim of gov
eminent is to provide conditions which will
reduce want and permit the very largest
possible number of its people to be healthy,
happy human beings. The life, the health.
the intelligence and the morals Of a nation
count for more than riches, and l would
rather have the country free from want
and squalor and the unemployed than the
home Of multimillionaires. The extremes
OF poverty and wealth crush the self
respect Of the poor and produce the arrog-
ance of the idle rich"
That doctrine may or may not have
produced the money whereby New Zealand
is able to fork up $l0,O00.OOO in a hurry to
build a great battleship and give 1t away
The public debt of the dominion, local and
national, Is about $3.50, COO, 900. The value of
the public property is put at about 1926
10000 leaving the net debt at about $5,-
100000 only.
The Dominion has a surplus OF revenue
each year Of about S4,OOO, 900, so that 1t
will have to mortgage, so to speak, its
surplus revenue for the next two years
and a half to build its Dreadnought. That
will mean that the expenditure for the
great ship will Just about exhaust the sur
plus revenue during the time the ship Is
building. II two years and a half are re-
quired TO build It the little Dominion will
not have to run In debt a cent for the
construction.
Such a showing lie one that few nations,
II any. could make and probably no other
colony of any country could present
1t illustrates WILDLY what the New Zealond
idea Of prosperity is, and probably the
New Zealanders regard their venture as
a pretty good advertisement Of living con-
ditions there.
Aroused by American Fleet.
A matter of interest to Americans in the
construction Of this ship for Great Britain
is the fact that the offer to the mother
country is probably the direct result Of the
great furore made in New Zealand last
August over the visit Of the United States
Atlantic fleet. II has been predicted right
along that one result OF the cruise would
be a tremendous advance In naval activity
the world over, especially in shipbuilding.
II was thought that in time Australia
would take up the subject Of building a
HdNH Oh e ONAAt bdN ~ va ~
by American naval experts that New Zea-
land would be the first to get into the
limelight In this respect. Her wealth and
her patriotism account for 1t.
While New Zealand is in the geographical
limits OF what Is known as Australasia it
Is a separate crown colony and really has
nothing to do with Australia so far as
government administration Is concerned. 1t
is a distinct dominion Of itself.
It's people chuckled secretly over the
fact that II received a visit from the
American fleet before Australia had that
distinction. The fleet really was sent
down to the Antipodes to visit Australia,
New Zealand at once set up what in the
p~arlance Of the day Is known as a holler.
She wanted the fleet also. Fate was with
her. II was necessary for the fleet to stop
somewhere on the way to Australia to
coal, and New Zealand drew the prize.
Americans Were E~ntranced.
Her people showed the Americans the
most novel entertainment Of the entire
trip, a visit to the wonderful geyserland
OF the dominion and a prize performance
by the Maoris, the only savage race that
Great Britain was never able to conquer.
The Americans found the dominion the
most beautiful country they had ever Wis
tied.
New Zealand worked itself up into a
mighty fever of admiration for naval
things, and II Is no surprise to those who