The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2155, 10 August 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1907.

THE COLONY’S DEFENCES. The annual report dealing with the Defence Department) which is summarised in this issue should bo read by everyono who is concerned in the country’s welfare or who—to put the matter in a purely selfish light—has a personal regard for his own safety. It is true that the peace of the world has not, within modern times, rested uxion so sound a basis as appears to be the case at present, yet no one can guarantee that a disastrous war | may not break out at any time. As regards t'lie people of N.Z. the fact may as well bo acknowledged at once that for the right to live, as free men and free women, to worship as we choose and to onjoy to the full the natural gifts of a singularly happy land wo are entirely dependent upon the continued supremacy of the British navy. At the recent Imperial Conference Sir Joseph Ward frankly recognised this and made it quite plain that the present arrangement., by which we contribute a comparatively small amount in return for the protection of that Navy, was one that New Zealanders wished to continue. The Dreadnought and other fighting ships of the Old Country must, therefore, lie recognised as our first line of defence, but still it remains for New Zealanders to do all that- is in their power to stand ready to defend their land against possible invasion. Though improbable, it is always possible, that in the event of Britain being engaged in war a few cruisers might! find their way to these shores and unless our defences were in much better shape than they have been in the past the outlook would be extremely gloomy for the inhabitants. If a country is worth living in it is surely worth fighting for, and the people of New Zealand, particularly the younger generation whose birthplace it is, must be prepared to make such personal sacrifices as may bo necessary to place themselves in readiness for all emergencies. That our volunteer force has for some years lioen in an exceedingly unsatisfactory condition is generally known. The public can scarcely be blamed, for the mismanagement of this most importav; department during the Seddon regime was so notorious that it ultimately ceased to cause comment. The late Commandant, year after year in his annual reports, pointed out grave defects and made recommendations that were periodically and promptly shelved. So far as the layman could see the force existed chiefly for the purpose of providing lucrative ar - 'ointments for men whose only ineritY 63l ; their entire ignorance of defence matters and their unvarying subservience to their political head. Can it bo wondered at that the volunteers themselves, seeing the trend of affairs and finding themselves hampered in regard to legiti*mate needs whilst the funds were being wasted in other directions, became less 'keen in their work, and the position year after year grew worse. With the advent of the Ward Government a change came over the scene and although political influence was net entirely removed from the control of the force, as should have been the case, a re-organisation was effected in regard to the management. This consisted of the formation of a Council of Defence, and it is the first report of this Council which is now published. A perusal will show that the Council has gone fully and exhaustively into the whole question of local defences and, as might have been expected, the result has been the discovery of defect's that can only be removed by almost revolutionary methods. From a. brief study of the recommendations it would seem that the Council has evolved a scheme touching every detail of volunteering. Presumably it is proposed to stand or fail by tlie system outlined, for it bluntly informs the people of N.Z. that they must either support the volunteer system on the lines laid down or he prepared to submit to a system of compulsory universal training. The report naturally requires very careful consideration and whatever may be the verdict of experts and our legislators in 'Wellington, it' will undoubtedly do a great deal of good in drawing attention to the gravity of New Zealand’s present position from the point of view of local defence.

A LADY LECTURER. Sufficient courage is not given to many women to overcome the prejudices of custom sufficiently to enable them to appear on the platform as public speakers, and to those who possess it this : quality is frequently their only excuse for posing as entertainers or instructors. Not so with the lady who - has been drawing large audiences to

His Majesty’s Tkeqtre during .the present week. Miss Murcutt lias not only that mysterious faculty sometimes described as “nerve,” which many a strong man has: felt the need of when .attempting to speak before a large audience, but she also has undoubted gifts as a public speaker.. Lacking the style and cultured methods of the natural orator, Miss Mur- • ciutt makes up for any deficiencies by her wide range of experience, the able manner in which she presents her facts, and the vigor and sincerity with which she appeals, when necessary, to the emotions of her audience. Miss Murcutt is a wide traveller, evidently a woman of keen observation, and possessed with what is usually considered tho exclusively , journalistic aptitude for emphasising precisely the points that her hearers desire to hear. The hypercritical would probably find certain points in which the leoturess has failed to explain the position with absolute accuracy; but speaking generally, it may be said that Miss Murcutt gives an exceedingly interesting and correct conception of the countries and Jieoples dealt with in her lectures. As an instructor of morals and social matters Miss Murcutt is scarcely so ; successful, for the violence of her litteranoes when advocating prohibition j and also socialism is so marked as to | rob them of a good deal of the effect 1 they otherwise would have. The economic evils of .the present day, as empliasised chiefly in the overcrowded cities of the Old World, as well as the das- t astrous results achieved by tlie liquor 1 traffic, are known to all. Any lecturer, devoting Ids or her time to reform in these matters is undoubtedly doing good work, but one cannot help h remarking that the use of extravn- L gnnt and vehement language leaves n the suggestion that the proposals ad- A

vooated can oat bo defended by reasonable arguments. The faults in our social system as well as the evils attaching to the liquor traffic as at present conducted can bo attacked not only by a display of indignation and enthusiasm which appeals simply to the emotions of an audience, but also bv the arguments of reason . which as a rule are much more permanent in their effect. Miss blur- | cutt apparently relies solely upon tho former, and hence in our opinion considerably lessens bor power for do- i iiig good. However, despite such limitations as those referred to, the lecture®! —with a mission similar to that of the Salvation Army, namely, to combine entertainment with moral education —succeeds to a remarkable degree. She has achieved considerable popularity during her present visit, and the people of Gisborne wiill undoubtedly give to this ardent reformer and talented lady a warm welcome should she at any time return to this town.