The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1914. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6, 7 January 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1914. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Discussing tho Dominion's defences, tho Manawatu Standard expresses the opinion that it is a pity no advance has heen made in the direction of establish, ing a small arms and ammunition factory in New Zealand; The absenje of such a .factory, and the country's dependence on outside sources, constitutes, the "Standard" holds, a very serious weakness in.a scheme of defence upon which much money lias been spent. Touching again on the rapidity with which the cost under the heading of Defence is mounting up, it is pointed out that last year £50.5,267 was spent on defence—£'23,Bos more than the expenditure during the preceding year. For the current vear the estimate is £505,017, and the provision of the Bristol cruiser, under the latest scheme, a year or two hence,

will involve the provision of the capita! cost, some £400,000, and her maintenance—probably £200,000 . a year. Large as this expenditure is becoming the writer referred to thinks it ; s to an extent nullified by the fact that the Dominion lacks such an important link in its defence organisation as a

small arms factory. The Commonwealth has established a plant, and machinery is being installed to enable it to produce 20,000 rifles a year. Thus,

not only will the Commonwealth he self-contained in the matter of arms ind ammunition, but a very serviceable addition is made to the manufacturing enterprises of Australia, providing work for numbers of men. Now Zealand might do worse than curtail her land defence expenditure in some lirectiou and use the money for the erction of such a factory.