The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1904. THE COLONY'S DEFENCES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 234, 7 October 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1904. THE COLONY'S DEFENCES.

The ansual report of the Coinmandant of the Forces contains some common-sense references to the need lor improvement in the organisation and training of our defence forces. These is no organised wtafl in tincolony, and thosv departments which are absolutely necessary for the training of a force in peace, and its guidaaoje and maintenance in war, do not exist, a fact which the Commandant has emphasised in each 01 ihis annual reports'. While staff and organisation is on ail hands admitted to be necessary for the establishment of any sound business, he points out, it appears to be in .New Zealand considered superfluous* in that department on which the responsibility I'or the proper training of the Defence Forces should fall in time of peace, and on which in time of war the safety of tincountry must in a large measuiv depend. In all count-ties where national military requirements have been fully appreciated and carried out, the immense importance of the logical and efficient organisation oi the &taff has been fully recognjised. As regards the various departments necessary, it is obvious that, unless such departments as those of the supply and transport, ordnance, medical, etc., are established and

trained in peace time, no force can take the field. If a defence force in Xew Zealand is to be maintained, it should be efficient ; and this could be effected at a less cost than that with which the present one is supported. Speaking of the charge of stores and equipment, ALajoi-Uen/erai points out that these in tame of war would of necessity come under the control of the Commandant, and s':hould be so in. time of peace. The present constitution, as regards financial matters, too, does

not conduce to true economy in peace, and would directly promote waste in war. The theory t-iat U ll military offers are, by the fact of wearing uniforms, shorn of all 'business instincts has inevitably tended to produce the laxity which it is supposed to prevtni. Theiv can he no doubt that, in proportion as oilicers are accustomed to official responsibility the economy which they alone can secure wadl be elfected. Looking beyond the deficiencies in stall and organisation which have already been referred to, centralisation is another of the serious disabilities attached to the defence forces of the colony. The onjy result of an inordinately centralised system has always been, and must remain, the destruction of initiative, it is also very detrimental to discipline, for unless officers in authority are allowed to assume their

proper positions the respect due to these positions cannot be looked for by those serving under them. If a force is to be trained to exercise that initiative and independence oi judgment wjiich &ro essential in the field, itsi peace administration must be effectively decentralised ; the object should be to encourage the assumption of responsibility as far aspossible. .Reference is made to the system of election of ollieers, the present mode being deprecated as acting detrimentally to the forces. It if recommended that the term of enlistment of volunteers be for one year, as formerly, instead of three, as at present. " Although one year's service cannot render a man efficient," the Commandant practically observes, "it is (letter than no training at all, and tlu* majority of the men worth keeping would continue to serve beyond that period." In conclusion the. report refers to the fact that recent "events in the Far tfast and the Imperial interests in the Pacific demand attention to the position as regards defence that this colony occupies. Beyond this, too, sooner or later, the existence of a force to defend Imperial interests in Australasia must be imperative ; and for every reason any such force as now exists should be organised op sound principles'."-