THE DEFENCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10540, 29 December 1899, Page 4

THE DEFENCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

There is no doubt that one good result of the present war will be to compel our Government to turn serious attention to the defences of tbe colony. Several correspondents have written to us on this subject, but it is doubtful how far it is expedient at this juncture to pubtish details of a kind likely to be more gratifying to our foes than to $ur friends. It is absurd to suppose, as some people -suggest, that our defence is likely to be materially weakened by sending away 800 or 1000 out of our total of 7000 or 8000 volunteers. Our weakness is in arms and equipment, not hi men, and, as we have before pointed ont, New Zealand is to be defended moet effectively in the Transvaal during the next few month*. If things go all right in the Transvaal there is little fear of our being attacked t if things go wrong and European complications ensue, we shall then have to look to the British Navy for our main protection. We shall still have left to us men quite sufficient in point of numbers to repel any isolated raids, which are all we have to fear so long as Britain rules the seas. At the same time, ikere is no doubt that at the earliest possible moment, the Government ought to put our defence forces on a more effective footing, and see that they are properly armed with the latest weapons of precision. Our Contingents, when they return, with all the benefit of service with Imperial troops in the field, will be of immense value in helping to reorganise our forces. This is a very strong argument in favour of sending a substantial body of men to the front! A large proportion of the expense we are ,put to, will, we are confident, be directly returned to us in the material j strengthening of our defences. j