The Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7248, 27 June 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1887.

A short time since, every batch of cable, grams received regarding Europe bristled with rumors of war about to be engaged in between two or more of the Great Powers. No definite grounds for such apprehensions were given. Supposed national jealousies, a desire to obtain territory, or to govern nationalities now ruled by another country, or the dethronement ui a ruler, or the suppression of rebellion, or for defeat were by turns given as reasons for anticipating that war would take place. Although lu colonies we might rationally be supposed to be uninterested in European rivalries, excepting so far as the indirect effect a war might have upon the welfare of the nations of the world, unfortunately we might be dragged into the quarrel merely because of our political connection with the Mother Country. Already in our small way wo have been led into imitation of the nations of Europe by expending a considerable sum in preparing for our defence against th.9 aggressions of possible enemies. It is time thst ajl colonies of whatsoever nation should be relieved from the dead weight of protecting themselves against the consequences of quarrels in t»iey are in no way concerned. It is not r»g»jt nor just that the colonies should be placed in 'tfce : position of being burdened with the cost of the construction of forts, mounting heavy guns, and requiring a standing force to work them, whilst they have no voice in the question of war or peace, and are not greatly interested in the issue of quarrels between European countries. Surely if the Imperial Government assume the tremendous responsibility of 4-ngaging in war, involving so many millions of subjects in the risk of being killed or plundered, it is the bouuden duty of tha Mother Country to charge herself with the expense of defendiog them. ?<ut the duty and cost oi the defence of her possessions is thrown upon their peaceful inhabitants, who have nothing to gain by war, but much to lose by interruption to their commerce. But the war scare ha:-: seized upon our people, and the ul the day l.ave become wild in their extravagant expenditure for defence purposes. Monpy has been squandered, and not wisely, in ttys .direction. Already a large amount has been mint,. •/} constructing batteries for the defence of oa» - principal ports, for which no return can evei- l,e obtained. Yet little or nothing has been said about it, Whilst the cost of education is being attacked, pnd necessary public works are threatened with uuspension, and miserable cheeseparings_ ti* .economy are attempted in the Civil Service, "and .o.ijr Ministers, in the true Tory spirit, are seeiung to burden the working classes with extra Customs duties amounting to 7s (Jd per heojl oh the entire population, very few seein to ji&ve asticed that one reason why extra taxatiou is np'jded is the enormous amount that Minister have expended in preparation for defence. These preparations were denounced by Admiral .Scott us being needless, because less costly ftftd more effective methods aro available; ana hi? opinion, as an expert, should have, hud so»ti<i .i6fe;»ht with the authorities. But ■they heeded it not at all, and still blindly have pursued thcir.i course; so that ths public money ha« not be»» wisely nor well spent. If this ridiculous for defence is to be continued at all, It is the duty pf Ministers to see to it that the money is laid out to the beat advantage, and so much cannot be said at present. But, indeed, when the vast seaboard of New Zealand is taken into consideration, it is obvious that the expenditure will be a terrible burden on the country, o*d it behoves the people at the coming election to.jnsist upon knowing howfar this non-productive waste of public money is to be carried. From the official records at our command we can partly judge of the extent to"which ; this craza has extended. From the Public Works tables we learn that there has been spent on "harbor defences," up to March 31, 1887, no leps tb&p. £318,827 ; and that at that date there weje flopjfcracts and outstanding liabilities amountyjg fco #77,524, making a total of very nearly £W>M)This is more than the total deficit to make up which extra taxation was da-: manded. Of this sum there was expended in the year ended 31st March last £139,428. In addition to this amount there is the expenditure for the Permanent Militia, Volunteers, the Armed Constabulary, Police Force, stores and magazines, and miscellaneous services, Amounting to about £90,000, of which £12j&06 i» charged to " contingent defence" in the tfiiblip Works account.: There is a further item, uncle? the head of " unauthorised expenditure," of £*7,01? for ]• " stbr.es supplied by the War Office." ThlsX'

gives a total for the last financial year of U2:!6,<H' r > paid away upon tin; remote (contingency of our being called upon to defend ourselves against foreign aggression. The cost of the ordinary police force was £102,000; hut this is not included in the calculation, though it is a laree sum to be spent for the preservation of internal order. For the present year the Estimates brought down to the House show that Ministers intended to ask fur an increase of defence expenditure to the extent of £7,000 above last year'* on the defence force alone. The items are : Volunteers, £44,491; Permanent Militia, £48,533; and stores, £4,024, making £97,000 in round numbers. Of this sum it was proposed to charge £15,000 to harbor defences. " This," said "the Treasurer, "is thoroughly legiti"mate, as the Permanent Militia are to "complete the defence works, and their "lubor will add to the capital value of " the works more than the amount stated." It would be difficult to estimate the "capital value" of works liable, if ever used, to be damaged, so as to require an equal amount to their cost for repairs ;_ and if never needed, which is probable, entailing an annual payment of interest which is a dead loss to the Colony. It is worthy of note that, in connection with die statement made by the Minister of Public Works, a further sum is set down for harbor defences during the six mouths for which supplies were granted. It would be interesting to know how much of the money has been and is to be spent in purchasing sites at extravagant prices for not-needed batteries, mounted with useless, antiquated guns, and manned by militia whose chief employment will be to waste powder, clean the useless guns, sweep out the lloors of the batteries, and look after magazines stored with arms and ammunition, which most probably will never he required except for practice, and which the rapid march of invention will possibly render valueless at no very distant date. It may surprise most people to learn that the "Permanent Militia "consists of 334 men of all ranks. Of these 311 are privates and non-commissioned officers, and thirteen officers receiving from £250 to £4OO per annum, together with five "instructors." To direct the movements of this little standing army there arc the "Commander of the Colonial Forces " with pay at the rate of £7ooa-yoar ; an " Artillery and Engineer Staff Ollicer" with £500; and an "Officer Commanding the Permanent Militia " with £4OO a-year. Wo trust the tax-paying electors will take this matter up and insist on the farce being discontinued. It would be easy to save £150,000 a-year on this one item alone; and before reducing the vote for any service needed for the material welfare or intellectual advancement of the people, the wasteful extravagance of Ministers in connection with the Defence Department should lie summarily and immediately checked.