The press MONDAY, MAY 13, 1918. The Defence Commission.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16210, 13 May 1918, Page 6

The press MONDAY, MAY 13, 1918. The Defence Commission.

We have, of course, no wish to anticipate the findings of the Commission which for several .weeks has been making a minute investigation into the Defence expenditure and administration. Thero are, however, two important statements made by the chairman, Sir Robert. Anderson—himself .anticipating his formal report—which we feel sure will be read with general satisfaction. Thd first is to the effect that not a single instance of the Minister having interfered in regard to any military appointment had come before the' Commission. To those who know Sir' James Allen this will not cause any surprise, but hearing in mind the extent to which political influence has prevailed in other countries, and the manner in which it dominated the public servico of this country , a few years ago, the very clear and emphatic statement made by Sir Robert Anderson must be regarded as exceedingly satisfactory. The otheri remark appears in our report of Saturday's proceedings before the Coinintesion. Sir Robert Anderson said that New Zealand was, the only country he knew of which had passed through tho war period without some frauds having been discovered in connexion with military organisation. "NVo know that somo exceedingly bad cases of the kind have been unearthed in Great Britain, while an appalling amount of "graft" has been, disclosed in I/ondon in connexion with tho supplying of munitions, etc. In New Zealand there has undoubtedly been some muddling and' waste, and we believe the Commission will be able to suggest some useful reforms in the direc- j tion of greater efficiency and economy, j But considering tjxat tho whole organ i- j sation in connexion with the war had to j be evolved at short notice, with no previous experience, and concurrently with the despatch of thousands of the flower of our population oversea, the country has every reason to feel gratified with the result achieved. The absolute freedom from corruption of any kind is a matter for pride as well as satisfaction. History, we feel sure, will give Sir Jame9 Allen, as Minister , -of Defence in this trying tiiie, a very ' high place on the Roll of Honour of who havo done great uerDominion, of-New Zealand.

Knowledge of the Empire. Sir Thomas Mackenzie was on Burc ground in pleading, in his speech at tho Newspaper Press I'und dinner in London, that British public men should visit tho Dominions "instead of rc- " inaining at Home in smug, contented " iguorance of such vital questions as '•the future of tho lato German colo- " nies in tho Pacific." The same argument has been advanced by ourselves and by numerous writers in various parts of tho oversea Dominions, and it was summarised by Kipling in one pregnant; line "What do they know of

"England who only England know?" -The mutual advantages to be gained from such visits as our High Commissioner has advocated aro so obvious a-s hardly to need emphasising. British statesmen know a good deal more about tho colonies than they did a generation ago—it would be little to their credit if they did not —but they lack, to a man, the intimate knowledgo that, would come from personal acquaintance with the different Dominions and dependencies. One can count on the fingers of ono hand tho number of men of standing and influcnco in th« Imperial administration who havo visited New Zealand in recent years, and in the case of several, their was practically done before thoy came here. Sir John Anderson, the lato Governor of Ceylon, who accompanied King George on his tour of the Empire, and subsequently beeamo Permanent UnderSecretary iof tho Colonial Office, is really the only one whom we can call to mind, who was enabled to bring personal knowledge of tho colonies to bear on his treatment of colonial questions. New Zealand and Australian Ministers have undoubtedly derived great benefit from their visits to Great Britain and their attendance at the Imperial conferences, and reciprocal visits from British Ministers and other public men in active work would certainly be of value not only to tho Dominions in which they travelled but to tho Old Country and the Empiro as a whole. It would not be one of the least of tho advantages accruing from such visits that thoy would givo colonial peoples a deeper interest in British and Imperial affairs.