NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 187, 29 July 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENCE.

I DISCUSSION IxN THE HOUSE. TEE PKEMIEIi'S STATEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. On the motion to go into committee on the Imprest Supply Bill, No. 2, Jlr. James AUeu urged the necessity of making adequate provision for the defence of the Dominion. Garrison artillery with proper field forces and proper coastal defence was valueless. More harbor defences were required, and more 0.7 guns. It' was the duty of every citizen to help in the' dcfyjicjß' of tile country and make himself fit to do so.

Mr. Wilford contended that a' citizen army was indispensable and quick mobilisation absolutely necessary. Tlite next war would be fought in European waters. Our contribution; or proposed contribution, must be £iven m the spirit of a son helping his father. Jlr. Fisher scathingly denounced the volunteer service as utterly inefficient and valueless. The transport system was quite inefficient, and numbers of inefficient infantry corps were kept at the expense of the artillery, ambulance ami transport. Mr. Major saicl great consternation would be created if the Government

came down willT a proposal to spend two or three millions to reorganise and equip the defence forces.

Tlie Premier dissented from the views of sonic members that we are at the inercy of any foe descending upon our shores. Any foe attacking us were attacking Great Britain, in view of our small population such expenditure us that suggested was out of the question, even if the Japanese alliance were not renewed, but members overlooked the entente cordiale, which' indicated the coming together of two great nations for mutual advantage, lie read a. lct-

ter he had written to tile governor on March 10 to the effect that the Govern-

ment proposed to increase the naval subsidy to £IOO,OOO as from October 1 next, iuid that no .conditions were imposed as to the situation of the lleet or direction thereof by the Admiralty. He

reiterated his views expressed at the Colonial Conference that the British Navy was the strong right arm upon which we had to rely. Public opinion, he maintained, was not yet ripe for f a citizen army, any private attempt at which would set back the volunteering system for a long period.