FORTIFYING NEW ZEALAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1318, 21 March 1885, Page 3

FORTIFYING NEW ZEALAND.

“ (Spectator ” in the New Zealand Industrial Gazette thus writes upon the defence of Naw Zealand : —“ New Zealand would be setting the world what I believe would turn out to be a very contagious example, were she to abandon all warlike preparations. She would moreover be showing that discretion which is the better part of valour, for protection is hopeless. As well might a toy terrier in his card-board kennel fancy himself secure from the attack of a mad bulldog. He could die game, which would be the only course open to us if we were attacked. If every man, woman, and child in the land were from this out set to work on protective openlions the result could only he that the colony would be, from its neglect of rational improvements, ot less value in the eyes ot envious nations. It is a matter of much doubt whether the coast of England is impregnable, and many important men are recommending the discretionary policy there. In the face of this we should surely see the ludicrous absurdity of half a million of men, women, and babies trying to render impregnable islands that the wealth of England would be incapable of protecting. Our security lies iu our poverty. During the garrotting days in Auckland a tall boy was walking up Syramonds street between the two cemeteries, when a suspicious-looking man appeared at one of the gates and approached near enough to him to discover that he was ‘only a boy.’ Saying these words, the would-be robber returned to his mate. The presumed poverty of, the boy was his safeguard. This strikes me as a fitting illustration of our position in the opinion of those European Powers who are beguiled into suspecting.”