THAT EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8345, 4 February 1913, Page 6

THAT EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

The failure of the Hon. W. P. Massoy to explain the Hon. James Allen’s astounding offer to tho Mother Country of an expeditionary force of eight thousand men for service in any part of the Empire, coupled with the unreserved endorsement of the scheme by the authoritative squatters’ journal, serves to confirm the disquieting conviction in tho public mind that this is an essential and a vital part of the “Reform’ ’ defence scheme. This incident is really alarming, for if the Defence Minister abroad is allowed to pursue such a course of recklessness there is no saying what ho may commit the country to before his present little excursion is. over. New Zealand has recently inaugurated a new, comprehensive, and courageous scheme of internal defence, the essence of which is the provision for the compulsory training of our manhood to equip it against the possibility of havng to resist invasion by a foreign foe. The Defence Act of 1910 and the complementary measures passed subsequently take a very high place among the enactments of greatest importance to be found in the whole of our statute-books. The scheme has tho approval of an overwhelming majority of the people. That we can and do say with entire confidence. It met with practically no opposition in the Legislature, and tho discussions were fortunately carried on, in tho main, quite dispassionately and free from considerations of party. It was recognised by Parliament that this is a national question. Hence the main Acte and the amending Acts found necessary to round off tho system as a whole had easy passages through .both branches of the Legislature. This, when it is considered how strong and bitter party feeling runs in respect of other questions of first-class consequence, is a fact as remarkable as it is creditable. But the one special consideration that made this possible—the chief fact upon which this unanimity rested, session .after session, and from one Parliament to another—was that tho army created was solely for the purposes of domestic defence. Had that principle not been specifically and authoritatively laid down, the proposals would have been altogether unacceptable to the Legislature, and would most certainly have raised a storm of indignant protest from end to end of the country Yet no sooner does Mr Allen set foot in London —Mr Allen, whose valuable assistance in establishing our defence scheme has been gratefully acknowledged again and again by its authors —no sooner does he arrive in the; Mother Country, with all tho mans and authority of office, than he makes this astounding and preposterous offer. Wo can see nothing in the latest enterprise of our Defence Minister abroad except a complete reversal of the guiding spirit of the Defence Act, and wo can only shudder to think what he may say or do when he gets into conference with statesmen of the Empire concerning the grave problem of the Empire’s naval strength and disposition. Cannot the Prime Minister do something to bring Mr Allen to earth? His present tour is no doubt rather exhilarating, for which some excuse might be made if it were not for the fact that the people, whoso servant and not master tho Minister is, are directly involved in the consequences. The applause of Tory organs in London and Wellington may be very welcome in the circles of self-styled Reform, but will hardly compensate for the righteous wrath of the public. The people of New Zealand may bo at all times depended upon to assist the Mother Country in time of trouble, with men and with money, generously and handsomely. This was proved by the magnificent response made to Mr Seddon’s call for volunteers for South Africa, this country being the first among all the British possessions to spring to Britain’s side m her dark hour. New Zealand will do the same again, and quickly, if the occasion arises, but the men. of our islands will go to war voluntarily, and not as a force compelled under a scheme put upon them in this surprise fashion by a Minister flushed with the excitement of his first official visit to London. Not as conscriptionists will tho free men of this free country permit themselves to he shipped away at the whim of Air Allen, or Mr Massey, or all of the so-called “ Reform ” party put together. Mr Allen’s _ presumptuous scheme; however, _ obviously leaves no room for such choice. It is a straight-out offer of so many men, available at any time for military service in any part of the Empire. The proposition is clearly accepted in England as definite and cabled abroad as such, while the squatters’ organ is already busy? with arithmetic to show how a total extra-imperial army of a hundred thousand men may ho so provided. The whole affair is exceedingly deplorable. It is also most intolerable.