LORD GLASGOW ON THE DEFENCE QUESTION. (BY TELEGRAPH )

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8172, 2 May 1895, Page 4

LORD GLASGOW ON THE DEFENCE QUESTION. (BY TELEGRAPH )

Auckland, April 2G. Speaking at the opening of tho volunteer liazaar, tlio Governor ro~ mnrkod in the course of a long spopoh : " It has even been said, 1 believe, by others who can hardly havo considered tho eftecb of whab they were sayin?, that) the money annually voted by Parlhmenb for the dofenco of tho colouy would bo b tter spenb in making roads and otherwise developing the colony. All I can say is that such is not the opinion of statesmen at Homo, who have made tho foreign relations of the Empire a lifelong study, nor of our military scientists, whose whole time has been spenb in the consideration of military problems of the day. I admib that it is perhaps natural thab the inhabitants of the gr, at Australasian colonies, which havo practically sprung into boing since our last great naval war should be s") engrossed with the fact of their wonderful growth and progress to think that there is little chance of another war, and thus over* rate their own security. More especi« ally is this natural, as on this side of the world the bulk of the people do nob as a rule study those Homo papers which give mosb information on our relations with the foreign Powers. Bub tho fact thab it ia now eighty years sinco that great struggle for°our maritimo supremacy which ceased in 1815 is no reason to conclude that wo shall always enjoy the blessings of peace. Tho old proverb still holds good ' If you wish to havo peace propare for war.' Referring to the remarks lately made by Admiral Bridge, Lord Glasgow said he entirely agreed with every word tho admiral had said, and ho thought thoughb blie colony would recognise the touch of his re* marks when he said « thab although the first line of our defence is tho Navy it ia necessary to have a suitably organised force ready to meet), as the admiral said, any would-be raider who manages to evade Her Majesty's ships. The colony (the Governor continued) ia fortunate in the possession of powerful formations for the defence of our great ports. Tho question one has to consider is,aro the forces detailed for the defence of our harbors sufficient ? I hope that nothing I have said will be thoughb to encourage a acare \ on the contrary, I beliovo that the making of all possible preparation in the time of peace is the only way to inspire the public with confidence and to avoid a ropotition of vvlmb is known as tho Russian soaro. lam no alarmist), and I have every feeing of trust in the fighting qualities of our race, if their leaders do justice to our troopa by seeiDg to their efficiency and organisation, and making certain thab the defenoe forces are as near perfection an poßiiblo, »

.i ' * tel l , you ! , wora en are (Joining to tho front/ *atd the woman's riaht* man, • Thai Nui foot/ W U the balds he^ueU man ; • there wa* quo (a f, un of w« at tha theatra laao H b|,{. UU( i }