NEW ZEALAND DEFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 135, 9 June 1898, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCES.

At tho meeting held in Wellington at which the Premier discussed the prospects of Avar and Mow Zealand defences (as reported in our last issue), Colonel Pen ton (who apologised for the absence of the Defence Minister, who was in .sympathy with the movement), said though it was recognised that the Navy I was the first line of Imgland's defence, it! must be obvious that we on shore had a ■ duty to perform to the Navy. Ships must have places for coaling ami for rolittiiig, etc., iv case of their being knocked about by an enemy. Provision had been made at the four chief ports in the colony to meet an enemy by the construction of forts ; but these forts had hack doors, and there was a risk of an enemy getting in there. These hack doors, therefore,1 must be defended by infantry corps, ami; that was tho object now in view. The j volunteer movement in Wellington, ho was: horry to say, was in v very backward state. I It was, iv fact, a disgrace to Wellington, j when compared with wkat was to be found 'in, other parts of the colony. lb*hoped the young men of Wellington would join with him in trying to remove the dis- i "race from Wellington, t Hear, hear.) The policy was to have a certain force ready in each of the four principal ports »i the colony, and recruit it Irom in*ii ;U that port and the towns adjacent to form a town battalion. Tin y wore also forming; battalions in the country, so that they would have both town and country battalion*. The town battalion* would be trained to occupy positions likely lo be attacked. In the Auckland district, when he lirst wont lhe>>>, tin re were not more than four con -. in

purpose*. Within the ia-t nine months lie had formed two complete battalions, and the country companies sitnateii on the line of railway could be concentrated in tintown within |-J hour--. .Applause.) The A if!: land movement had bren very largely hcio-|! oy the New Zealand Natives' Assoelation, Colonel Pen ton urged the nece.ssity of employers encmirnging volunteering. Thcv had a stake in the country, and by encouraging their employee* to take M.-mcy they were practically laying up an in-urnucc againsl risk in the time of war. In And land ami Dunedin private firms had ottered to form corps, and ho hoped Wellington would follow that example. (Il^ar, hear, j In the Wellington district he had a complete country battalion formed, and more oilers than he needed Irom the same source. Kut in Wellington city he required an extra corps for torpedo work, an engineer corps, a bicycle, corps, a medical stall corps, and three companies vi" infantry. lie hoped lo receive every help in getting them. (Applause.)