THE SAME OLD STORY. Another Defence Commission Asked For.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 195, 26 March 1904, Page 6

THE SAME OLD STORY. Another Defence Commission Asked For.

WE know there is trouble in the Far East because the papers repeat the samenews about the same Russo-Jap engagement day after day to emphasise it The trouble has emphasised the necessity of putting our guns in order, and of seeing how many artillerymen can be spared from clerical duty to man them should danger threaten. The Japs have made a big hole in "impregnable" Port Arthur I—m1 — m fact, i" is now reported they have captured it — and the question suggests itself, "What sort of a hole would the Japanese fleet make in Greymouth or Westport?" * * * Some Southern Ms.H.R. and others at Christchurch have solved the difficulty. Appoint a Royal Commission, they say, to enquire into the state of the colony's defences. In other words, get a few gentlemen, at great expense, to tell us what we already know. We've never seen the necessity for bringing coast defences up to date; consequently it hasn't been done Although it seems to be necessary now, the suggestion is not to do it, but to get some opinions on the matter. Successive commandcints, who, after the Premier, may be presumed to be best able to give an expression of opinion on the matter, 1 aye always advocated improvements that have never been effected. * * * The Government and the people know what's wanted, without paying f\ Royal Commission to report ancient history. It is well within memory that a Royal Commission sat about the troopship scandal, and discovered that what had happened had really eventuated. Perhaps, wit - cut any lay opinions being offered at all, the' opinion of experts who have already spoken many times might be collected, and their advice taken. There may be some necessity for increased armaments, -but there isn't any necessity for a high-priced Commission, which will discover a selfevident fact. One fact remains. If a. big Power comes knocking at our door, we cannot unassisted keep it oufc, even though our armaments are increased fourfold. * » * At the Christchurch meeting, the matter was gone into fully, defects shown, and reforms suggested. In fact, the meeting anticipated the v. ork that a Royal Commission might do. There are other ways than by the appointment of an expensive Commission to ascertain the truth c f the allegations that not a fighting clay's supply of ammunition exists in the colony Perhaps, the Defence Department could supply the figures in ten minutes Somehow, we can't relieve that this "influential" meeting at Christchurch will influence anybody, but we sincerely hope that no amateur generals will get a job to rehash the stale defence news of the past twenty years.