THE EMPIRE'S NEEDS.

Evening Star, Issue 11661, 21 January 1902, Page 4

THE EMPIRE'S NEEDS.

THE CALL FOR A NINTH CONs TTNGENT. Mr E. G. Allen (Waikouaiti) addressed this telegram to the Premier:—" The fact of a further immediate call from the Imperial Government makes it clear, I think, that the men must be urgently required to finish as soon as possible a war the prolongation of which is a source of serious danger to the whole Empire. I therefore would endorse the action of the Government in sending more men." "When the Empire calls our duty is clear. I take it as a compliment to the colony that we should be asked to send a Ninth Contingent, and am glad that you replied so promptly in the affirmative."—J. F. Aekold. , [Br Tklegraph ] We have been favored with the following further replies to the Premier's inquiry as to sending another 1,000 men to South Africa, as requested by the Imperial authorities :

If the crisis has developed there is ao help for it, and more men must be sent With the world looking on, and the Continental nations bitterly jealous and greedy to see their insults justified, no part of the Empire can afford to stay its hand. The safety of the nation—our own safety—demands the maintenance of a solid front. There are stronger reasons than ever for sending men. The more men are sent ths sooner the trouble will be over and the less serious the sacrifice.—Geo. Jones, MJL.C Mr W. W. Collins (Christchurch) says"l can reply to your question in a few words. If the Imperial Government feel that the further help is necessary we must give it. Whatever is necessary to bring about a speedy termination of the vr&e, which is a desirable end, must be done." Mr W. W. Tanner (Avon) says: " Send another contingent by all means. As citizens of the British Empire our duty is plain, and the Imperial Government would not ask for further troops if they did not need them." He. thinks that the request has been made owing to come complications in Europe, and a desire to take some o. the troops back from South Africa to the Old Country. The position might be more urgent than it appears to us out here. No doubt the fact that Ministers were called together in Wellington a short time ago had something to do with the matter.

Mr G. J. Smith (Christchurch) expresses himself thus: "As part of the Empire, ?t is our duty, as well as our privilege, to share its burdens. If, in view of possible European complications, it is desirable that, the South African War should be endeti as noon as possible, and if another contingent would be acceptable to the Homo Government, we should offer it without delay, and prove once more the unity anl determination of the Empire and the loyalty of this colony." Mr G. W T . Russell (Biccarton) says that having put our liand to the plough we cannot draw back.

A Westport message states that Messrs Colvin and R. M'Kenzie, M.H.R.S, and the Hon. H. J. Reeves, M.L.C., have approved of the Ninth Contingent. Mr M'Kenzie suggested to the Government that the Middle Island section should take their departure from Nelson. PRESS OPINIONS. [Sfkcial to tee Stab.] CHRISTCHURCH, January 21. All the local papers support the proposal to send another contingent. The 'Press' says: —"While all must deplore the fact that, the services of fresh contingents are still required, no trtie patriot will regret the action of the Government, and everyone will appreciate the compliment paid to New Zealanders in the reaiiness with which the services of our troops are accepted by the Imperial authorities." The other papers adopt a similar strain. The 'Lyttelton Times' expresses the hope that in recruitiug for the contingent the authorities will bo able to reduce the stan dards so as to admit smaller and lighter men than have hitherto been enrolled. Light, active men are even more useful for mounted work than the big, strapping fellows the colony has been sending. WELLINGTON, January 21.

The-'New Zealand Times' says the call for more troops will be variously interpreted. Some will view it as a confession of weakness —an admission that British regulars unaided are incapable of bringing the war to a successful issue. This flattering theory to the colonial amour propre will not be' accepted as the true explanation, even in this country. Neither will the people believe it an indication that further recruits are unobtainable in the Mother Country, for this would come perilously near a confession that Home opinion is now with Mr Stead's claim to speak for the stop-the-war party. "We decline to believe anything bo foolish as that opinion has veered in that direction, or.that the troops now in the field are not able to terminate the conflict. Still wilder rumor asserts it to be the intention to let the colonial troops finish the war. The more probable explanation is that a determined effort is about to be made to follow recent advantages, and to keep hustling the Boers into submission." [Special to thb Stab.] WELLINGTON, January 21. Though the Premier's circular telegram to members of Parliament requesting their views on the proposal to send a Ninth Contingent was marked "strictly confidential," surprise has been expressed that the text of the message appeared in the Wellington upvpapr-rs practically simultaneously with the telegram coming into the city members' hands. I had a talk with. Mr Hutcheson, M.H.R., on the question, and elicited from him that he had replied to the Premier as follows: —"As I have received no new light to enable me to alter my views, I must repeat the former reply as to the sending of contingents. I do not approve of the proposal. I have the honor to express my regret that I am unaware of the precise nature either of the communication o'r circumstances upon which it was based. I must accordingly reply to a large extent in the dark. If the main object of the Imperial Government is to get a further reply to foreign pin-pricks, or if it is mereiv accepting 1 an invitation which it deems 'to be held out by your own extravagant language, then my answer must be in the negative. If, however, a definite call is based upon actual requirements of the military situation in South Africa, I think we should respond to the call. In any ease I regard the number mentioned as excessive. As far as I can judge of the circumstances of the colony, 500 more men is as many as we should be called upon to contribute at the present time."