The Globe. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1876.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 669, 11 August 1876, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1876.

From a telegram published a few days back we learn that the Government intend carrying out a policy of retrenchment as regards the volunteers of the South Island and the Armed Constabulary of the North. The former event has been long impending. Speaking of our province, no one can deny that a large amount of public mony has been expended with no appreciable benefit. For some time the volunteer movement in Canterbury has not only been at a complete standstill, but has been retrograding. Most of the companies are mere skeletons, and for all purposes of defence, would be all but useless. To preserve even this semblance of a force costs the colony a good round sum of money which could be much more beneficially spent in other directions. Therefore, there can be no two opinions as to the wisdom of the step proposed. Besides, the circumstances of the colony are now such, that Jail Jits available 'resources are needed to meet its engagements, and carry out the policy of public works, to which we are committed. It becomes the duty of the Government, under these circumstances, to see where a saving can be effected without impairingthe efficiency of the public service or the safety of the inhabitants of the colony. No one will, we think, argue that the keeping up of an expensive toy such as volunteering in the South has decidedly become, is necessary to prevent either one or the other of these contingencies arising; consequently no harm can be done by its discontinuance; on the contrary, a saving of a large annual sum of money will be effected. What is really wanted for the proper protection of the colony is a well considered scheme of harbor defences. This, and this alone, would be of any practical use. We have a very large seaboard, and the greater proportion of our harbors are so formed by nature as to present every facility for mounting artillery in such a manner as to make the approach of hostile cruisers extremely difficult. Even were our volunteer force in a higher state of efficiency than now, it would be to a great extent powerless against an armed vessel once it had effected an entrance to the harbor. But were the entrances to the porta fortified, this would not be the case. Thus it will be seen that even as a means of defence, granting that they were thoroughly efficient and adept in the use of their weapons, our Volunteers would only be of use as an adjunct to the more important work of fortification. That they are not efficient is not so much the fault of the system. The composition of the various companies is continually being changed. Members who have been some time in the force, and are therefore fairly efficient, leave after a short period, and their places are filled by recruits. Hence it is that by far the greater portion of the companies now existing in Canterbury do not exhibit that efficiency which, after the amount of public money spent on them, we have a right to look for. Without in any way wishing to disparage the patriotism of tho Southern Volunteers, we cannot close our eyes to .the fa,ct that as a means of defence they are useless to a great extent. Besides this there is not, as perhaps in the North Island, the necessity for them. There from the large native population, it may be policy to keep up a force trained to the use of arms, which in time of war would be a very valuable aid to the regular colonial forces. Under these circumstances, and looking to the fact that with the heavy burdens the colony has to bear every shilling saved to the revenue is an object, the proposition of the Government commends itself at once to every thinking

mind. As regards the armed constabulary in the North too, the reduction proposed to be made seems wise. This body has now rather come to be looked upon as a last resource for impecunious neer’-do-wells than a force for the defence of the country. Indeed the greater portion of the work executed by it has been road-making, which, while all very well in its way, could be much more economically, and perhaps effectively carried out, by ordinary labour, without having an extensive and highly paid staff of colonels, majors, &c, to supervise it. Therefore a judicious pruning of expense in this direction will be productive of good. That we must maintain a force of some kind in the North is undeniable, but that the armed constabulary as at present constituted, is the kind of force necessary is questionable. A large reduction can, we feel sure, be made in the expenses of this department without in any way withdrawing from the colony the means of internal defence. Indeed this is to a great extent admitted on all sides, and therefore when it is seen that public money is being expended uselessly, the Government ought to step in and remedy it. That they are likely to do so in the reduction of the two items alluded to will, we are sure, be looked upon as a wise and prudent measure, and we hope that they will carry it into effect.