DEFENCE POLICY.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1973, 1 September 1869, Page 3

DEFENCE POLICY.

{From the Wellington Evening Post.) On Tuesday, August 24th, Mr M‘Lean, at ten o’clock, moved tho Defence Estimates : He began by alluding to the unanimous action of the Legislature, in tho matter of retaining the 18th Regiment, and expressed a hope that the contribution we should have to pay for them would not he so great as was expected. He was led to believe this from looking at the Army Estimates, when he found the cost of soldiers paid by various Colonies, differed from L 3 7s 2d in the Cape, to L 77 in Ceylon. From all he could learn, the cost of a regiment to us would not, he thought, exceed L 40.000. This regiment, whether used in the field or in garrison, would be a most valuable assistance to the Colony ; and, in addition to it, the Commissioners were to raise an addition to the permanent local force of the Colony—it might be from men who had served in the Irish Constabulary, or from short service men belonging to the j Imperial army, a large number of whom were now being discharged. These men, it was intended, should form part of the permanent defence force, and be brought within the annual defence vote after once being raised. A great advantage in thus getting a force from home would be that they would, to a certain extent, be drilled, and would be armed with all the latest appliances of warfare. It was on a permanent force of this kind, formed on the model of the Irish Constabulary, that the Colony would really have to depend for its protection, and in the organisation of that force the men would be fauglit that it was even a more important duty to repress or prevent crime than to punish criminals. The force would, in fact, have civil, as well as purely military duties, and muht do pood service by preventing and detecting the sales of arms and ammunition, which now so largely prevailed. The information which suen a force, composed of intelligent men, could collect, would be most valuable, and would enable the Government to nip many an outbreak in the 1 ud before it had time to develop© into a war. To induce good men to enter this service, higher inducements than at present would have to be offered; and to induce such men to enter into the higher class of force he indicated, it was intended to offer higher pay than the present, and to give security of per manence of service. The proposed strength of the force for permanent duty, the Government put down at 600. That would be the standard number, and it would not be a standing army, but a highly-organised Constabulary. The change, however, would not be a hasty one, but the existing force would be gradually reduced and changed, the best men—and there were many good men and good officers —being retained. Past services would be fully recognised, and those who deserved it would bg retained. It was also proposed to establish a depot where all the men would .he drilled and taught their duty before beng sent to the out-districts on service. Promotion would be given by merit, and when not employed in active duties, and in the winter, they would not be sent on expeditions sure to lay one-half of them on a bed of sickness; they would be employed in road-making and other useful work. The force was already reduced nearly by one-third since he took office, and the reduction was still going on. A small proportion of the new force would be composed of natives of various tribes, but only a few who would be useful as guides and ip other ways, When it was found necessary to employ natives largely, the Government thought it would be more economical, and more adapted to the customs arid habits of the natives themselves, to employ them, not as part of a regular force, but for a certain specific duty. The Government bad given a good deal of attention to the subject of arms, and, aided by the enquiries of the select committee, they would endeavor to get the best sort of arms procurable. A small cannon, which could be carried on a mule, had been invented by Colonel Penn, in Abyssinia and might, the Government thought, be found very useful by us, especially as the ammunition >yaa not liable to Ipjury by wet, : The Government would give the greatest, possible encouragement to Militia and Volunteers, and especially to Cadet Corps ; and they thought the boys of every public school should be drilled. Mr M ‘Lean concluded by moving the vote of LI 50,000 for defence, stating thut he did not wish tho House to believe that that sum was sure to be sufficient for the. year ; and that, it w-»s for the Hou ,j e to say whether it would wish to meet again when that sum was expended, or would prefer giving the Government a contingent vote of LhO.OoJ in case of its being required, in which case the House need not, probably, meet before the usual time.