The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1903. COLONIAL DEFENCE FORCES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 244, 13 November 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1903. COLONIAL DEFENCE FORCES.

The difference in the military spirit in these colonies betWeeft two years ago ati'd the present time is vjry marked indeed. It is natural and reasonable enough that such should be the case, but it is the duty, of the eol'ony just as it lis the business of every European State to make use of a time of peace ill order to prepare for the time wheh preparations become impossible. We learn from our Eftgllish files that the Commission of Enquiry now sitting at Home, besrdes looking into the management of the Boei- War, is busying itself flat a iittlO five)' the preparations that ought to be taken in the colonies and in England to prevent our being caught napping as we were when Kruger sent in his famous ultimatum. Colottel Pole Pentort has tteeii giving evidence before the Commission now sitting in London, and has put his finger on ' the really weak spots in colonial ar- ! maments. These ftr'e two and possibly tilr'e'e in number. The first is the selection of officers biy the the men, and the use of political influence in selecting the higher officers. Everyone will agree that political influence should be banished, but as regards the election of officers without abolishing It altogether we are inclined to thihk that something like the system tit present ih use here for selecting school teachers would Work very ft ell. If the military experts in tliu colony were to submit to the local corps the names of two or thre officers for election, and it was obligatory upon the corps to select one of the three choisen the difficulty might readily be solved. The heXt difficulty is that of a rbpcrte corps, of, as Colonel Pole Penton suggests, some 6000 or 7000 men who would form a nucleus round which an army of defence might be formed. The JoHnatibh of a reserve force such at? this is ouo of extreme difficulty since so long as the ftveriige workman can get 7s or 8s a day for his work he is n®t likely to come forward in any numbers for less pay while it would be impossible for the colonial to pay the £2OOO or £3QOO per day necessary for the remuneration of Buch a force as is required. Thii? difficulty can probably be" best Sui-mßuhtstt by cailihg but thia reservfe torcb fot a limited period, say one month in e&fch year. Such limitation would undoubtedly affect their efficiency, but it is hard to see in what other way the desired object can be obtained. The great difficulty ds the reserve of ammunition, and especially the heavy gun ammunition. To a limited extent indeed the Colonial Ammunition Company cati Supply any ieasonable demand for cartridges, but for heavy jejuhs it is impossible to got ammunition anywhere nearer than England. Colonel Pole Penton suggest tthe following solution of the difficulty " One way the Imperial Government might help the colonies would be to supply them with the gun ammunition at cost price, and also certain necessary equipments and oiily chafge them the interest oh the capital value of the ammunition and stores supplied. That is the only way I can see you cati get an adequate reserve of stores for the colony." This solution of the difficulty by Colonel Penton appears to us aft extrfemoiy wist) one, and we would suggest that the Defence Department takes steps to enter into a arrangement without delay. Military matters, as we have said, interest the people in times of peace, but we go on spending considerable sums on the Defence Department, and it is of interest to every colonist that while we do this we should get the best possible result from the money spent.