KITCHENER.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1125, 4 March 1910, Page 4

KITCHENER.

ON NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENCE

THE PREMIER GIVES SOME

IMPRESSIONS

LEG ISLATTON NEEDED

HAS K. OF K. "GIVEN A NEW

SCHEME?

l'Bll TRESS ASSOCIATION Auckland, March 3

Sir Joseph Ward, who accompanied the Field Marshal throughout his tour, in giving a reporter some impressions, paid a high tribute to the manner in which the transport oi' troops and cadets from the out districts to the four centres had been accomplished by the Railway Department, and pointed out how the Main Trunk railways were proving their usefulness in this respect. The fact that, in round numbers, 13,000" cadets and some 7000 adult volunteers had been assembled at the four centres without a hitch marked a. distinct advance so far as tjie transport facilities of the Dominion were concerned.

"One point we should remember in connection with the visit of Lord Kitchener," said Sir Joseph, "is that he did not come to either New Zealand or Australia to inspect, in the ordinary sense of the word, the volunteers or the cadets; and for that reason lie had not publicly expressed any opinion as to the efficiency of the

men, nor the correctness or otherwise of any manoeuvres that have been carried out during his visit.

"His visit to New Zealand was to suggest what was the best system to adopt for the defence of the Dominion, and in this category I include the- permanent defence of Die harbours that require it. It is therefore to this report and recommendations that we must- look in order to lay down a proper and effective scheme. I feel personally that the result of his visit will materially add to the value of the defence sj-stem of the Domin-

"I cannot- discuss the recommendations he has made in the report, except to say that they are on lines that are well within the possibilities of the Dominion to carry out. After they have been considered by tho Government, they will bo published, ?o as to give members of Parliament and the public generally a full opportunity of becoming acquainted with them before the next session of . Parliament."

Asked as to the effect of the report on the >!ew Zealand Defence Act, Sir Joseph said he had no doubt that legislation would be desirable to include the scheme proposed by Lord Kitchener in his report.