THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2320, 4 January 1890, Page 2

THE DEFENCE OF NEW ZEALAND

GENERAL EDWARDS' REPORT.

(PBE PEHBB ASSOOIATIOk.)

Wellington, January S. Mpjor-Gaceral Bdwavde' report to the Governor on the defancea of New Zealand hi>a been handed to the Proas Aaecolatioo. (ieuerftl Edwards ooaeidere that as it would be impossible to prevent •t enemy landing at many points in the ocnony U;i deleDOj wlli bo beat aeoarod by the fotmatioa of a reliable field foroe at the four centres of population. The forcioe generally are losoffialently trained, but the material Is all that could ba de ■ siitd, It would be better to torn tho cavalry into moaoted infantry, aa it in etieootlal that fi aid forces should each havci a pi'opei proportion of this important arm, There are too m»ny naval actlllery and they ehould ba amalgamated trhh t^e garelson artillery, aud the nnmbei reduced to 670. The field artillery should be ireduced to 360, and the guns replaced by modem weapons The establishment oi! ooant corps should be nncooragud. In otder to Greats officiant fiald forces repimuots mail: be established, but on a different footing to tbose recently dissolved. Taoy ftboaid be small in peace not capable cf ozpanaion in time of war,, Too troops at each centre should number 955 Inoiu Ung a regiment of two four company battaUone, each battallion 300 strong. Pjovlded a auffiolent number of rifla corps or clubs are established thioughcut tha ooiony > this field force could be ralaod t*) 2500 men eaoh battalion being made up to 1000, but before It can bo placed on a proper footing something morn reliable saya General Edwards, la roquirud than ihe present volunteer eyatetn, anil be recomnaeeds the partially paid tyatem which has been adopted by the Australian colonies. He reckons tbe toti,l Dumber who would have to bo partially paid at 4490. The General momfdera the harbor defeoo^s are well plaim°.d. The atmament is saffiaiect <o ropol tho avaclc of several oralnere, provided the dof^noe Is properly org»nleed, and oompetent officji^ appuluttd to command. Ha recimtnondd laying in aa amp c store of ammunition, and replaolag the Snider rfle by a more modern weapon. There should be one pattern of tidid gun ocd nfla foe i>U the A.qbtralashn colonies. Along with his repjrta General sen 5b his uitmoras dum on tho Australian Oolontos, In which (tl.usloa is made to many points oouoornmg Hew Zealand, ana »"ds tbr.t In his opinion U is a question for consideration whether tbe tot cos of Ne-v Zanlsnd ehould not be eventually fedora;ed with those of the Aastralisn Colonial. Saauuil sed, the Geueral'H propositions for the ire-organisation cf tbe foroi's are as follows :~(1) The appointment of a commandant. (2) The amalgamation of districts into fout—Auckland, Wi.lUn,t w, Oanterbnry m-d Ota^o. (3) The orgt\nla atlon of the fiald forces in each dUtrioi. (4) The establishment of a p^xtblly paid kfatem. (5) Tho abolition cf tbe eeltotion of offio^is by msmbera of corps, (6) Combining with the Austrian Oolouiei foi ea annual inepeotlon of foroes by a general offiotr, who would eho be the military tidvlaer of the G vernmen',. Th« increaoed o> st would cot be moro thnn the 6m unt annnally expended op to 188'/. No farther soma need b» rxpended oa work.-* or batteries *frop the present forlß are nrmed and completed. In oonolu^ion G nera) iWwatds sajc, "I wcnl4 e.tongiy Impress ott you*. 1 Government i'at.t bet tries and forts ate of littlu v*ino anleti (they ate suppUmeuted by fiald foroes * .lopieyeui tbeli biiotf tutaei," %