DEFENCE OF THE DOMINION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8891, 10 August 1907, Page 3

DEFENCE OF THE DOMINION.

SIR.—I do not know who. has Ha honor of holding Hlo.P 01 ' u .[ feuco in flic Gakniot, but v • lather iuteinscnco in thoir omarulr Ssifriefs This I.S very valuable mto tho sweater and toiler doubtless the gentlemen and „ ‘ ,s holding military eommissntm the Government will not fail to .if" t - or their masters and employers T present 'in office for such, romnuorative 'offices. National Defence Jr a .s every common sense thinking citizen, irrespective of party feeling, will admit, necessary to our existence, viz, that every man from a reasonable ago to a suitable limit should be trained in the use of the rifle and got into shape as a marksman. Our population numbers no more than 000,000. and in _easo of temporary disaster to the imperial navy wo certainly should bo dependent upon ourselves to protect our coasts and homes. Therefore let ns be reasonable in asking ourselves the rpostiou relative to how many ablebulled men there are in our district who arc competent in the handling of the rifle. Our enlightened Government do not think it incuinV'nr to let the general taxpaying public into’their confidence as far as what is our stock of rifles, field gnus, batteries, Maxims, etc., also supplies oi munitions of war to hand as at present, also the defences of our great coastal cities. Were war to break out I defy the general officer commanding the military forces oi Now Zealand to be able to mobilise, arm and manoeuvre 25,000 men in the North Island within two weeks of declaration of war. Are wo to infer the Government are doing th is merely to kill the dormant military spirit of our race in these realms'.' As far as the gallant general officer commanding is concerned, officially speaking, all that gentleman is able to do is to recommend measures for the improvement of his department and also development, to Parliament, and then it is shelved session in and session out. I certainly protest against this procedure of the Government by neglecting the functions attendant upon the defence of our country, and this fact is not allowed to'pass by .the secret agon!.-; of Japan and other Powers located in New Zealand to their respective governments. Wc may flatter ourselves very much indeed upon our insular position, but patriotism and citizenship demand, as wc are here, a proper recognition by the reading and thinking public. To bo ready for war is the greatest surety for maintaining peace. New Zealand is reaping great benefits by her connection with the Motherland and the sooner Sir Joseph Ward and party are brought to their facings in the House by a series of sensible questions the better it will be._ Five million sterling would bo quite the amount of money preliminarily required for the purpose of creating a military college and tributary schools throughout the Dominion, and arsenals for the manufacture of mans and ammunition. Sir Joseph knows it and every member of the Defence Department knows it, and instead of wasting public money for the purpose of retaining votes in and out of the House, increasing taxes year by year, non-decrease of the National Debt of £(’>0,000,000 with its annual interest that lias to bo paid, it would bo as well wore the unctuous Gci-

vorumcnt to pull iu its horns nod learn that there aro other things ou which honest expenditure is needed. Practically speaking our integrity and independence arc guaranteed by the Imperial Government and it docs not become the self-respect and dignity of t! 10 Dominion of • New Zealand to trade upon that fact by not introducing to insure, every man being trained to arms for the preservation of our country agaiut foreign invasion. I am aware there, aro men who will pooh-pooh such expressed sentiments. Still wo aro quite assured that were actual war to come to our shores it would not be men like them who would be found at the firing line, or. to answer the bugle charge witii the bayonet, yet they demand the lull benefits of what 'their country Jins to offer iu days of blessed peace, prosperity and surpluses.—l am, etc.. " CHARLES H. TOMPSON. Valley Road, Kimbelton, August 7th.