DEFENCE MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 484, 17 April 1909, Page 9

DEFENCE MATTERS.

; ,■.§,"■»—Options on matters of Dominion de- ' tence. differ, and this being a free country ' .let>us agree to differ. TKe circumstances of ] a-volunteer system for land defences'..isi-a ! large,and elastic one; butl cannot but be ' of that the old system of a mili- ] •tia roll, with the fulfilment of obligations •' under jsucn an Act, would work as well now '! asif did m the past; ' during the early ] ■troubles in. the North Island.' Nor must the •' four regiments of Waikato militia be uncon- v' sidered.' During the war with Russia 1 in \ Ibpd-ci a, call was made upon the militia of J the_United Kingdom, of Great Britain, < which wasv nobly responded to; ■'■ and many ot ; these regiments volunteered, for service ■outside, of their country, and, garrisoned ■ (tibraltar,, Malta, etc.-, until the conclusion of the Crimean,war.- Again, for the late Boer war the 3rd and Mi Battalions" of Territorial: corps were forthcoming, •au'd did \ good service. They were employed chiefly on ; lines of communication true, but this duty ' is : a very onerous trying one. ;Again, \ see the Imperial Yeomanry in the same ; .war. .. ■ • ■.;.., T ■ Coming back to, our own; : Dominion, we I have had Von Tempsky's'and Jackson's VoV untcers and Forest Bangers, and their i\ :prowess is on .record, with that of similar » ■bodies m Taranaki, Whanganui, Napier and i? Wellington In July, 1869, volunteers were [ called .for. from the Thames, Auckland pro- l .race and the Waikato during the late To S Kooti s wanderings. Yet see the response of {, the Auckland-NavarVolunteers • for Taura- J nga,Brittle later. The.i the demonstration „ against To AVhiti at Parihaka, which com- h bmed already organised valunteer corps from , North and South Islands. And, lastly and ci not .without its significarce, the presentation tl ottne able-bodied and,intelligent body of New' Zealand contingents of 1900-02 for ac- i, tive service beyond the seas. There is no £ question of tho material: if'would ; seem to bi that of organisation and tuition. The « mi itia system approaches that of a com- h' pulsory training, and I think would meet ' any requirements. Great Britain will have w to revert to this noble institution. Of .;,, oourso « T ew Zealand. Cabinets dread nought si now, but they pass on. ■.'.■■■ , 11 I have naturally a deep interest in tho G subject, both from 'an Imperial military Tl point of view as well as from that of a w volunteer, serving in the ranks on active or ?H™ce. as an oijicer in India, m LBoS-6oj selling out to take part in the con- ar diet with the Natives here. I did so as a ser- th *eant. I commanded Nelson militia and m rolunteer district 1874-77. For result of this or ast. period see Hansard 1875, pages 218, oh liV, Captain _ Pearco then commanding D co Battery, New Zealand, Artillery Volun- ca ;eers. Lastly, I was a sergeant in Ist Bra- of jants. Horse, South Africa, and was in-' as ,-alided-in December, 1900. •■'l may' there- •£<s ore claim to have a practical insight into au ;he subject matter. A report of mine, 1875 an >r 1876, is in the Defence Office.—l am etc no ■ '~.' ■■ .. ' . J. T. MARSHALL. '' qu p _________ - ■ h