VOLUNTEERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

Evening Star, Issue 11188, 13 March 1900, Page 1

VOLUNTEERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

The Mayor of Greymouth has addressed a circular to members of the Legislature submitting for their consideration resolutions passed by a public meeting at which he presided on February 27, being to the effect that the equipment and transport of troops for service in South Africa is the first duty of Parliament, and that Parliament should be called together immediately to vote the necessary supplies for another 1,000 men and horses. The meeting wore impressed very strongly by the sense that somehow *.or' other expression should be given to what they believe to be the opinion and desire of the Colony at large, and with that view the support of the mem- ' hers of both Houses and the constituencies is asked. It is impossible,-the circular asserts, in the short space available to give all the reasons which led the meeting to the conclusion arrived at. The most cogent, it is thought, probably suggest themselves, and it is hardly necessary to, enlarge upon the paramount right of Parliament to deal with the expenditure of public money. In adopting the resolution it is declared that the following propositions were recognised : —That the Colony has by its Parliament authorised the expenditure of only £35,000 ; that patriotic ' individuals are now told that they will have to provide nearly all the money required to cover the cost of equipment and transport of persons .willing to serve the Empire; that this Colony, more wealthy and prosperous in proportion to its population than any other, can well afford to vote, if necessary, £250,000 or more that the' charge at present authorised on the Colonial Exchequer is not commensurate with oar resources and liabilities as an integral part of the Empire, and is so small as to be injurious to the good name of the Colony ; that it is beneath the dignity of Parliament that the Executive should be driven to resort, in such a case, to the shift of drawing upon unauthorised expenditure and appealing to private beneficence; that our quota of men and horses on a population basis is 4,000 ; that there are no immediate indications of a termination of the war, and if President Kruger resolves to hold Pretoria it may last for many months ; that Lord Roberts, who is the most capable judge of the situation, has quite recently intimated to Queensland that more mounted men would bo very acceptable; that the struggle for supremacy and the safety of our African Empire is being watched by the jealous and hostile populations of the greatest military and naval Powers of Europe; that now, more than ever, it is of paramount necessity to put forth and assure the world of the strength of the forces of the British Empire. The Committee appointed- by the meeting to draft the circular most earnestly invite favorable consideration of this appeal, and suggest that those who approve of the resolution should immediately advise the Premier to that effect. Without committing ourselves definitely to the proposals of the Greymouth meeting- which we admit are ably- supported by the arguments embodied in the circular, we are decidedly of opinion that the position taken up is one which very properly should be discussed. The situation, considered in all its bearings, is sufficiently critical to justify the calling of Parliament together in order that due and proper provision should constitutionally bo made for giving that material aid to the Empire which the circumstances undoubtedly demand, and which the people of New Zealand are quite willing—there is no question of this—to afford. There is much force in the argument of the Greymouth circular as to the impropriety of throwing the charges of raising and despatching troops to South Africa upon unauthorised expenditure. It is a bad precedent, and might in possible eventualities be a dangerous ode. If possible, still more objectionable has been the policy adopted in regard to the Contingents now being formed, which should have been raised”, organised, and equipped by the Government through their responsible and competent officers, and the whole expense charged on the public revenue, to which the whole people contribute, and which is known to be sufficiently elastic to bear the cost without embarrassing the finances of the Treasurer. The result is now being manifested in dissatisfaction very general, although perhaps not openly expressed, and a growing feeling of irritation on the part of good citizens at the continual demand for contributions, whilst many members of the community—very wealthy people to boot—confine their largess to patriotic sentiment! The Greymouth Committee are quite right in declaring that the work is by no means approaching a termination in South Africa. Peace can only be possible on very decisive terms—so decisive that there can be no renewal of the conditions which brought about the war. To this effect the whole country now held by the bitter enemies of Great Britain and the cruel persecutors of the Native races wiH have to be occupied possibly for years on a system of military settlement, and for this purpose members’ of the Contingents would be eminently suited. What is won in the present sanguinary war by the sword in the Boer regions of South Africa will, there is good reason to believe, have, for some years to come, to be held by the s.word, and the prospect is not one to dannt the brave, enterprising youth of Australia and New Zealand.