A NEW METHOD OF DEFENCE.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3893, 14 January 1878, Page 3

A NEW METHOD OF DEFENCE.

TO THE EDITOB OF THB FBESS. Sm, —The political horizon thickens; the mutterings of a war storm rattle in our ears, and still Zealandia lies on the bosom of the South Pacific unsheltered from attack ; like a chick not gathered 'neath its parent's wings, abandoned by a cruel mother to its fate. The only step that England takes is to say —" Here are two of my officers, Sir W. Jervois and Col. Scratchley; if Zealandia likes to pay their expenses, and to adopt their ideas, she can defend herself." No friendly squadron with its white wings to shelter the lonely bantling of the South Pacific. The Pacific colonies have on ocean coast line greater in extent than that of the United States, and of all the European States put together, and yet the cumulative wisdom of these gallant officers, and of the Cabinets of Australia, can only devise this plan—" Bolt and bar the front doors and windows, and take care to leave all the back doors and windows open to Russian burglars." That, in plain' English, is the sum and outcome of their wisdom—"Defend the main seaports, and leave.the.beach open." _. . This financial aspect is worse still—Victorian defences, £350,C00; North .Australian defences, £100,000; Adelaide defences, £300,000; West Australian defences, £200,C00; Sydney and Newcastle defences, £350,000 ; Tasmania, £200,000; Brisbane and Queensland, £200,000; Zealandia, £300,000; total fortifications, ships, &c., £2,000,000. Yearly charge at 5 per cent., £100,000; eight colonial armies, at £30,003—£240,000 ; total yearly cash, £340,000 ; loss of services of men, £340,000 ; yearly cash lost, £680,CD0. Bnt any foreign power that chose could come and .ruin us for all that, as onr back doors-would be open, and no man would attack fortifications when he could turn them.

I venture to suggest a more complete defence—that is, defence by peace. England's -Idest colonies laid down the law, " That they would not interfere in European quarrels, and that Europeans should not interfere with them;" and if that law is good for them, how much better is it for us, who are twice more distant?

Let ns pass a law declaring the Pacific colonies federated, with a congress, headed by its chairman, to deal with federal matters. We need not feel or make any disregard for England; it would only be necessary to elect the Governors, instead of their being nominated from a distant land, and the guarantees given by England could be substituted by the federal guarantee. The change would only be a change of name, and our federal ambassadors could notify onr independence of European quarrels to all the Powers. We should save £680,000 per annum, and we should be really defended by peace, without armies or navies. Our progress would be all the more rapid for being no longer hampered with unhealthy political ties. If England felt disposed to strengthen her position and ours too, she might use her hundreds of idle ships in bringing out to Camden Bay, North-west Australia, that fearful army of one and a half millions of our brothers and sisters who lost year cost her twelve million pounds to keep from starving, and so the last gap in the colonisation of Austrlia would be filled. According to the account of that district, published years ago by Captain Geo. Grey, it is fertile, well watered, and has no warlike natives, the best guarantee of a good country. These peaceful plans are better than fortifications and war. I sincerely hope my new method of defence may find universal favor. Yours, &c., J. W. __KADW___.

[We commend Mr Treadwell's proposal to the notice of the Lyttelton Harbor Board. The principle of his scheme will, we presume, be as efficacious if applied on a smaller scale. We suggest therefore that instead of troubling themselves about the defence of the port, the Board should induce the Town Council, headed by their chairman, to pass a bye-law declaring Lyttelton independent of all quarrel a between any European Powers.—Ed. PBBS3.]