NEW ZEALAND ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81870, 20 October 1906, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ARMY.

THE PROPOSED DEFENCE BOARD. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 19. Under the new Defence Bill, which ', was introduced into the House of Ref picsentatives by the Premier this f week, provision is made for a Hoard . 0: four members to control military j matters i n the co'iony. It is rumj oured that the Board will probably s consist of Colonels Robin. C.8., Davr ies, C.8., and Collins, and Mr Geo. I Gray. The two first-named officers v will be the military experts of the '„ Board holding equal powers. Col. t Collins wi\l be financial expert, and ~ Mr Gray, who ha- been Chief Cleik s 01 the Defence Department f"r many .. years, will be the Board's s'-eietaiy.

li. selecting t ne of the officers of the Treasury as a financial member of the Board- the Government will be following the Ausaa'lian precedent. 1' is.further announcil thac the position of ir-pectorGeneral, wliicli i* ako to be created under the Defence BAI, will net be fil'ed for some time and that an Imperial officer will be selected. A- the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) will visit England in connection with the Imperial Conference of Premiers, which is to be held in London in April next, it is net unlikely that tin- Government may IH<I over the appointm»n' "1 ln-=p'Uor-Gcneral until the Prettier has personally conferred with the military authorities at Home. The name- of Majors Madd «'ks and Owen are mentioned in connection with the latter. THE ABANDONED STEAMER, Per Press Association. I) :ii;!«. 0.-tobcr l'.i. The olli ;er> of tl>e abandoned steamer Port Stephens k-H for Wellington hy the Tdlune, en route to LiitJon. -Most of the crew remain in I utieiltu.