THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1893. OUR DEFENCES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2563, 3 October 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1893. OUR DEFENCES.

Thbkb ia something so supremely ridiculous about the question of the defences of the colony, that, serious and important as the subject is, one cannot help laughing at it all. No department has, we think, been so ridiculously mismanaged, not by the present Government so much as by past Governments. We had in this

colony, filling the position of Governor, a great military authority. We refer, of course, to Sir Wiliam Jervois, He gave

us lectures and advice, and made many suggestions as to how the colony should

be defended, and we blessed our stars for having favored us to the extent of giving us a governor who was both useful and ornamental at the same time. But the information and advice which Sir William Jervois gave us only whetted our appetite for more. A military gentleman happened to visit Australia, and he was at once invited to have a look at New Zealand. He came, and made suggestions, and next we got. Colonel Schaw all to ourselves. Several other military gentlemen were consulted, and defence works were undertaken, and at last we went to bed every night of the year flinging defiance in the faces of Russians, Turks, and Chinamen, and all the rest of the world. Some discontented soul suggested to get a commander-in-chief for our army, and Captain Fox was imported and he was immediately promoted to the rank of a colonel. He has been in the colony about twelve months, and has cost a couple of thousand pounds, and has reported to Parliament that our defences are not worth a straw, and that our volunteers are scarcely more valuable. We pay this gentleman £7OO a year, and £2 a day travelling expenses, and the result of it all is that Parliament the other night flung back his report to him, and practically told him it was no good. The Legislative Council has thrown out the chief part of the work done by the House of Representatives, and now the House of Representatives has cast aside the work done by Colonel Fox, and so we are getting on—one party blotting out what others do. Really this is beautiful, but the poor taxpayers must pay for it. So far as Colonel Fox is concerned, we were never able to see the necessity for sending for him, and though we hesitate to commit ourselves to opinions on military subjects, we honestly believe that he is far too dear for the money. We are firmly convinced that Major Newall, or Colonel Bailey, or Colonel Gordon would have organised the volunteers better than Colonel Fox knows how, and that it was simply nonsense to bring a man from England for such a purpose. Oliver Cromwell, George Washigton, and a great many other great military commanders had very little military training,

and yet they have left their names embalmed imperishably in the pages of history, and if the occasion arose in this colony the man would arise with it. Some of Colonel Fox’s recommendations were so idiotic that one is forced to doubt his sanity. For instance, he recommended that such of the police as had any military training should be called out for drill for a part of every year. Now if this were done, who would do police duty while they were so engaged ? The colony appears to be overrun with burglars and spielers from Australia at the present time, and if our police were called out for military duty who would cope

with them? Then let us suppose we wanted them on the battlefield, who would do police duty at home ! The idea is so ridiculous and nonsensical that one is driven perforce to doubt the scientific proposals of Colonel Fox, and consequently we cannot accept anything he has suggested without a grain of salt. Then his remarks on the officers of the volunteers were scandalously improper. He gave the Government a private report—which is to be kept as a State secret —besides the report which has been made public. It was in that report he ought to have discussed the merits or demerits of individual officers, and not in the public report. But the value of his report may be gathered from a story, for

the truth of which we can vouch. An officer who has been praised inordinately by Colonel Fox has been heard to say ; “Well, I don’t know why he should praise me, as he has never seen me on parade in his life. I suppose it is because he knows my brother, who is a captain in the JEtoyaj. Navy.” Then let us take the case of Sergeant-hfajor Jones. It has been admitted by Colonel Fos himself, as it is by everyone who knows him, that Sergeant-Major Jones is one of the most efficient drill-sergeants in the colony. Golpnpl recommended that SergeantMajor .ffW? ehQftW be dismissed, and

that a similar position in a district nqt jar off, and is next door to useless, sftoijld be kept on. Then he recommended that a fresh set of men should be brought from England to replace those dismissed. It is onjy a few years since Sergeant-Major Jqne| arrived jij. the colony, after having gone through th© African gampaign, and the only reason for imfWWff we should say, is that he has no brother jn the navy. One of the most impudent parts of Colonel Fox’s report is that which refers

!to the removal of Mr Ball. Mr Bell was the Defence Engippejr, and Colonel Fox praised him inordinately, JVfrile i Q the **- . '+-h he has proposed hie worfes next breu,. *>ave said, we make no useless. As we *. of military pretensions to the possess Polish knowledge, but we know that it la * to suggest that the police should be taken away from their proper duties; that j officers should have been exposed j —even to the extent of their pecuniary 1 position—as they have been ; that re- i ferences made to officers in some in- i stances savor of either favoritism or t want of knowledge of them; and that c some excellent and efficient men have 1 been recommended for dismissal while 1 inefficient men have been continueed in * the service. We are not sorry, therefore, J that Colonel Fox’s report has not been 1 acted on, and if the Government took our ]“ advice they would pay him his five years’ B salary and pack him off Home. We have not the slightest hesitation in saying P , that Majoy NewaU understands this c

colony and what is wanted far better than Colonel Fox ever can, and that if placed in command he would produce greater efficiency at less cost. But we have a craze in this colony for importing everything, whether it be a bishop, a bot-fly doctor, or a military officer. We are deadly opposed to this; we believe our own people are equal to our own requirements, and that whatever emergency arises men will be found amongst us who will be equal to it. The sooner we action that principle the sooner we shall become a nation of self-reliant people.