NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 33, 20 October 1911, Page 17

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

Bir,-—-During Mr. Scott Bennett's lecture on "Bayonefcr-s a.nd Boys" at the Town Hall recently, one of the 'audience asked the lecturer this question: Would he advocate leaving Now Zealand entirely uiiuofondcd from foreign invasion? I would like to say a few words in answer to that question. I would certainly favour leaving Now Zealand entirely undefended, for the following reasons: N.Z. could not arm on an 'equality with other nations (say, Germany or J'aps.u), through lack of numbers, therefore I Kay that N.Z. jvould be far better not armed at all In the long run. Take the case of the 'Boers. They prepared for war, and |hey got it. If they had not prepared for war, they would not have got it. iThat is evident. They icsisted the British invader by force of arms, and wllat was the result? Thousands of liyee lost on both idos and nothing

gained by it, and they were conquered in the end. As it was with the Boers so it would be with New Zealand, in the event of invasion. I would not like to see Now Zealand- under any other flag but the British ; but I would sooner see it without the loss of thousands of lives than with the loss of thousands of lives. Moreover, N.Z. could get no outside help, for the ports would be blockaded, and she would be completely cut off from the rest of the world. And so it will bo seen that, in the event of invasion, it would be far better in the long run for N.Z. and everyone in N.Z. if there was not a single gun or soldier in Z.Z. Can anyone give mc the name of any country that has yet prepared for war as N.Z. is doing that did not get what they prepared for sooner or later, either from within or without? The only people that I ever heard of that did not get war were the ones who did not prepare for it, as in the case of the people of Pennsylvania, who were surrounded by warlike Indians who were constantly in conflict with other States which we're- armed, but they who were unarmed were untouched. It has been truly said that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword, and a country that takes to the sword, as N.Z. is doing, will probably perish by the sword, and it would bo only what might have been expected judging by the events of past history am, etc., Well. " R.S.