Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1897.

Manawatu Herald, 1 June 1897, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1897.

When any day may bring forth war it becomes an interesting study where the money is that must be found to pay for the men and materials wasted in these struggles. We have but to glance at the estimates for tho army and navy of Great Britain for last year to learn something of the amount needed, bearing in mind that these sums are merely for the services on a peace footing. The total estimate for the army is £20,805,768 which only pays for 146,249 men of the Regular Forces, 85,100 of the Army Reserve, 140,230 of Militja, 11,678 Yeomanry, and 262.396 Volunteers. The total of all branches,, including the Regular Forces on the Indian establishment, is 718,821 of whom 669;553 are classed as ".effective." The amount of the Navy estimates for the past year is £19,618,821 which is subdivided too numerously to here reproduce. Put>> these two items together we get over forty million pounds needed a year just for ordinary protective services.- To o'uow what" ft war would mean both to the increase in tbe National Debt and in taxation we have but to glanoe back at the varying figures of our Debt which to day stands at £660,---160,607. The highest total reached by the Funded Debt was in the ypar 1817 when it stood at £840,850,591. The Debt at the commencement of the American War was only 188^ millions^ -but the 'additions during the war totted up to over 121 millions so that the Debt was close on 250 million* During the peace 1784 to 1793 ten and a half millions were paid off, but the war o! the French Revolution ran the country into 601£ millions of expense thus making it tbe- sum in 1817 that we have mentioned. At the death of George 111 nearly forty-six millions were paid off, and olose on twentyfour millions at the end of the reign of George IV. During William Ivs reign nearly ten millions was paid off, and at. Jhe accession of Queen Victoria the Debt stood at £701,422,---570 and to-day at the amount previously stated showing that during the quieter ti&est though there has. been the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, the Funded Debt has been/reduced by more than fortyone million's. The National Debt comprises certain terminable annuities and it is satisfactory to know that owing to a number falling in during the years 1901 and 1904 the Debt will be further reduced by forty and a half millions. The position of the inhabitants of a oountry have also to be considered, and the stock of gold held in the United Kingdom is estimated at 145 millions ; by Russia at 182 millions ; and by France at 172 millions. We must hope that, wisdom may prevail amongst the rulers of the World so that the wealth may be employed in furtherance of the cause of peace and manufactures rather than in the useless waste of war. No war oan be carried on without money, and every halfpenny devoted to war is thus taken from trade and commerce, bo that evert person in the oountry should earnestly strive for peace. War is, at times, necessary but should never be entered into until all other efforts have failed.