THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10538, 27 December 1899, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

For reasons which we have stated in our leader to-day, and in previous articles on the same subject, we think that New Zealand ought to send a larger Contingent to South Africa than is at present proposed. Most people, we fancy, agree with this vCew, and are prepared, out of a pure feeling of loyalty and patriotism, to bear their share, and in many cases more than their share, of the cost. These are those who give hoping for noth'jng in return. But in point of fact, we shall reap a very material benefit which may appeal to some who take a strictly debtor and creditor view of every transaction. We refer to tie very great advantage to .the future defence of this colony when our men return to us from the

war, wCth all their experience and training on .active service. As officers or non-com-missioned officers they would be of immense value to .help to train our volunteers, and would, we feel sure, give a very decided stimulus .to the volunteer movement. The majority of our readers, however, we are convinced, would be in favour of substantial help being sent from New Zealand at this moment, even if they knew that we were to reap nothing in return, except the satisfaction of having done our duty as sons of the Empire. We liope that there will be a crowded and sympathetic meeting at the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon, in response to the Mayor's invitation, and that it will be merely the prelude to a still more enthusiastic moss meeting, at which all loyal-hearted citfzens may have an opportunity of showing, their sympathy with the movement.